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Engine Cowling Mostly Left on the Runway

Passengers unusually quiet...apparently 'the pilot had to be told that the cowling had fallen off' - because he hasn't got eyes in the back of his head I guess.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/articl ... rport.html

Cowlings coming free and banging around?

Well, we've all been there....

Looks like SouthWest’s turn in the spotlight after the buggered up approach at LGA and now this.

PP

Is this groundcrew error, not properly latched?
Not having been airliners, but I doubt all clasps are visible to the walkround pilot.
Mine turned out to be worn attachment points, not the groundcrew's fault.
The screws on the intake covers had come loose because the hydraulics behind the covers were being checked every flight, which was not in the design spec for the screws.

Maintenance would be the only ones to open cowlings.
I don’t remember anything Boeing related as I got my 737 type entirely in a sim. Never have been up close to a 737 from the outside.
The design of the cowl latches on an Airbus is such that if the latches are not properly closed they are visibly protruding when looked at on the underside of the cowling. Seeing this area requires bending over far enough to get eyes level with the bottom of the cowling, kneeling, or looking from far enough away to have an angle.on them.
This was a major emphasis on walkarounds and was always brought up during recurrent with a pictorial walkaround.

PP

PP this is one of the reasons why you should always carry out your checks

https://aviation-safety.net/asndb/320752

Airline regulators in the US have begun an investigation after an engine cowling on a Boeing 737-800 fell off during take-off and struck a wing flap.

The Southwest Airlines flight returned safely to Denver International airport at about 08:15 local time (15:15 GMT) after originally departing to Houston.

The aircraft had 135 passengers and six crew members on board and rose to about 10,300 feet (3,140m) before landing.

(7th April)

Woody wrote:PP this is one of the reasons why you should always carry out your checks

You are not seriously expecting pilots to bend down and look under the engines, are you? They might get dizzy or lose their balance or spill their take-away coffee - and it might be raining.........

As I was working with a Canberra, I was able to get a visual inspection to see if anything else was loose.
Has anyone here had a visual inspection whilst flying an airliner?
Would you get one if available and thought prudent?

In my case, The upper intake panel on the right engine was hanging on by the back third of the screws. We could not be sure the panel that was flapping around was intact, nor could either of us see behind the flapping panel to be sure all the other panels were in place, nor could we see inside the cavity to see that nothing had been ripped out, nor could we be sure that anything downstream, including the tailerons, had not been damaged by anything which may have been ripped off.
Plus, since something had happened which wasn't ever supposed to happen, one wondered what else might be wrong.
So, since I had another aircraft available, I did a low speed handling check at altitude then called him in for a look-see.

I once got airborne at RAF Coltishall in a Lightning T5 to find an erk had not refastened the port 'Elephant's Ear' (on the spine just behind the cockpit and way too far off the ground for a mere sky god to check.... ) which casually lifted itself up at rotation and flapped madly in the breeze as I climbed away. ATC could not avoid seeing it and I returned prematurely to earth. Fortunately little damage done and panel still hanging on.

The erk was let off with "little damage done"??

I believe summary execution was ruled out................

Now, for the erk who dropped a pop rivet mandrel in a Harrier intake causing me to eject some sorties later - a different finding...

Boac wrote: ↑

Mon Apr 08, 2024 8:46 am

Woody wrote:PP this is one of the reasons why you should always carry out your checks

You are not seriously expecting pilots to bend down and look under the engines, are you? They might get dizzy or lose their balance or spill their take-away coffee - and it might be raining.........

Surely if it's raining you send the FO to do the walkaround?

Now, for the erk who dropped a pop rivet mandrel in a Harrier intake causing me to eject some sorties later - a different finding...

Drummed out of the service?

50 years Jankers?

Fined the cost of the A/C?

1979. Senior BCAL people came down to the Ferranti Helicopters Shoreham base shortly after they bought the company. Familiarisation flights were provided to those who wanted them and I was detailed to take two of them on a short flight in a Bolkow 105. It turned out to be VERY short! The 105 had poor single engine performance and about 10 seconds after we were cleared to depart across the active runway one engine stopped and we ended up safely in the long grass. Someone had left a Scotch-Brite pad deep in the engine intake.....