Citation X (C750)
Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Flight Instructor; Flight Crew Flight Engineer; Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 85; Flight Crew Total 10700; Flight Crew Type 180
Confusion
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe
Air Traffic Control Issued Advisory / Alert; Aircraft Aircraft Damaged
Aircraft; Procedure
After four hours of flight we were descending thru 15;000 FT MSL and being vectored on the arrival. We heard a sudden bang and felt a vibration. We slowed the aircraft to 200 KIAS and checked aircraft systems. The vibration settled down and all aircraft and engine systems were normal. We disconnected the autopilot and aircraft flight was normal. We continued a normal visual approach and landing. On taxi to the ramp Ground Control reported to us that it appeared the engine cowling on the Number 2 engine was missing.
We had flown from the east coast uneventfully and upon descent on the arrival and descending through 15;000 FT we heard a loud bang and felt a vibration. We chose to slow the plane to 200 KTS and the vibration was drastically less. We had no CAS messages or abnormal indications in the cockpit. We thought that possibly a gear door had fallen open. I chose to turn off the autopilot once the plane was stabilized below 200 KTS and we were at approximately 10;000 FT to make sure the autopilot wasn't masking a bigger problem. The plane flew normally so we continued on the arrival and had a normal landing. Upon taxi in; the Controller working Ground Control advised us that part of our right engine cowling was missing. Upon exiting the plane a large part of the center section of the right engine cowling was missing. An engine inspection had been completed on both engines the day prior. The cowlings were latched and locked externally and verified visually on the pre-flight inspection. Our initial thought is that the latching/locking mechanism located inside the cowling was not installed/locked properly after the engine inspection.
CE750 flight crew reports a loud bang and vibration descending through 15;000 FT. No CAS messages are present and the vibration is greatly reduced when speed is reduced. Flight continues to a normal landing where Ground Control reports that a large portion of the right engine cowl is missing.