Incident Overview

Date: Sunday 29 November 2015
Aircraft Type: Cessna 560XL Citation Excel
Owner/operator: Jivair
Registration Number: SE-RHJ
Location: near Farnborough Airport (FAB) – ÿ United Kingdom
Phase of Flight: Approach
Status: Substantial, repaired
Casualties: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 11
Component Affected: CowlingCowling
Investigating Agency: AAIBAAIB
Category: Accident
An aircraft departing G”teborg City Airport, Sweden, bound for Farnborough, U.K., experienced a sudden vibration and bang during descent. The crew reduced speed and disengaged autopilot, maintaining trim. Concern was raised about potential damage at the rear, but no visible damage was observed through the cabin windows. Landing was uneventful. The aircraft was leased six days prior to maintenance with four previous flights following maintenance, resulting in approximately five hours of flight time since maintenance. Investigation determined the cowling detached due to insufficient fastener securing during maintenance.An aircraft departing G”teborg City Airport, Sweden, bound for Farnborough, U.K., experienced a sudden vibration and bang during descent. The crew reduced speed and disengaged autopilot, maintaining trim. Concern was raised about potential damage at the rear, but no visible damage was observed through the cabin windows. Landing was uneventful. The aircraft was leased six days prior to maintenance with four previous flights following maintenance, resulting in approximately five hours of flight time since maintenance. Investigation determined the cowling detached due to insufficient fastener securing during maintenance.

Description

The aircraft had departed G”teborg City Airport, Sweden, bound for Farnborough, U.K. During the descent, at approximately FL200, there was a sudden bang and the aircraft started to vibrate. The crew reduced speed and disengaged the autopilot; the engine parameters were normal and the aircraft remained in trim. They were concerned that something at the rear of the aircraft was damaged but nothing untoward could be seen through the cabin windows. They configured the aircraft for landing and decided not to use thrust reverse. The landing was uneventful. The aircraft had been leased to the operator six days prior to the occurrence and was on its fourth flight following maintenance. The total flight time since maintenance was approximately five hours. Conclusion: It is unlikely that the fasteners were the wrong size or had failed in flight and investigation concluded that the cowling probably detached because a number of fasteners had not been securely fastened during maintenance.

Primary Cause

Insufficient fastener securing during maintenance of the cowling.Insufficient fastener securing during maintenance of the cowling.

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