Light Transport; Low Wing; 2 Turbojet Eng
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Instrument
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 170; Flight Crew Total 2160; Flight Crew Type 965
Situational Awareness
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical; Inflight Event / Encounter Weather / Turbulence
Aircraft Aircraft Damaged
Aircraft; Weather; Human Factors
During the second leg of our day on a flight from ZZZ to ZZZ1 sudden turbulence was encountered. Approximately 3.5 hours into the flight while descending through an estimated 27;000 feet; we felt a bump which we both agreed was likely Clear Air Turbulence. The remainder of the flight was uneventful. The aircraft was not adversely or noticeably affected in its ability to fly and no buffet or shudder was noted in the flight controls. After landing and unloading the line crew notified me that the right engine cowling was missing. Upon further inspection it was noted that the right engine cowling was in fact missing and the horizontal stabilizer had likely been struck at the time the engine cowling separated from the aircraft.
The flight was from ZZZ to ZZZ1. After preflight inspection; we had an uneventful takeoff out of ZZZ. At an altitude between 35;000 feet and 25;000 feet during the descent we hit momentarily clear air turbulence. We both agreed that it was turbulence. We continued our descent into ZZZ1 as briefed. After a normal approach and landing we parked the aircraft then assisted the passengers with their bags and they went on the way. On post flight walk around we discovered the right engine cowling was missing and a small dent in the leading edge of the tail of the aircraft. That is when we suspected that the clear air turbulence was caused by the right engine cowl departing the aircraft. ZZZ Tower; our company operations manager; and the FAA were then notified.
Flight crew reported after landing they discovered the right engine cowling had come off in flight and struck the horizontal stabilizer. During their descent they felt a bump which they thought was clear air turbulence.