What engine did he use and what is his flying style?
Did he install the small dowls to the firewall to strengthen it.
I would be suprised if it came apart at the glue joint.
ORIGINAL: FlintFlyer-VP
I witnessed a terrible site on our flying field yesterday. 10-9-03. One of our club members was flying his GP Wagstaff Extra 300 and at slow and level flight there was a loud "pop" and then the cowl and engine seperated from where the firewall meets the fuselage. Not where the engine bolts up to but where it actually joins the fuse on the backside. The plane is totalled and there was nothing that could be done to prevent it from coming down. It will be interesting to see if GP makes this right and if they have some "beefing up" to do.