Most pilots are familiar what the industry calls “quarter-turn” fasteners, those quick-release devices used to secure engine cowlings and fairings on aircraft of all sizes and uses. They typically go by their manufacturer’s name, like Camloc or Dzus. They sometimes require a special tool and they can be difficult to adjust to ensure their security. When they work, they work well.
The problem, according to the FAA, is when they don’t work. The agency in April issued a special airworthiness information bulletin (SAIB AIR-22-10) on engine cowlings, subtitled “Quarter-Turn Fastener Maintenance Instructions.” The SAIB’s release was occasioned by several instances of what the FAA calls “engine cowl damage and resulting separations” occurring across the Textron turbofan-powered airplane product line, e.g., Cessna Citations.
