Cowl door latch assembly

A nacelle for a gas turbine engine comprising:

• a nacelle body;
• and
• a first cowl door, the first cowl door comprising:
• a first cowl door body having a first side, a second side, and an interior surface and an exterior surface extending between the first side and the second side, the first cowl door body rotatably mounted to the nacelle body at the first side of the second cowl door;
• at least one first stiffener mounted to the interior surface of the first cowl door body and extending lengthwise at least a portion of a distance between the first side and the second side of the first cowl door body, the at least one first stiffener comprising a first stiffener body comprising a first latch housing section disposed at a second stiffener end of the first stiffener body proximate the second side of the first cowl door body;
• and
• a first latch member mounted to the first stiffener body and disposed at least partially within the first latch housing section of the first stiffener body;
• wherein the first stiffener body further comprises a mount portion mounted to the interior surface of the first cowl door body and a hoop portion projecting outward from the mount portion;
• and
• wherein the first stiffener body has a first stiffener end opposite the second stiffener end, wherein the first stiffener body further comprises a support section that extends from the first stiffener end a portion of a length of the first stiffener body and the latch housing section extends from the second stiffener end another portion of the length of the first stiffener body, and wherein the hoop portion of the stiffener body has a first width at the latch housing section and a second width at the support section, and the first width is greater than the second width.

A method for forming a cowl door, the method comprising:

• providing a cowl door body having a first side, a second side, and an interior surface and an exterior surface extending between the first side and the second side, the cowl door body configured to be rotatably mounted to a structure at the first side;
• mounting at least one stiffener to the interior surface of the cowl door body, the at least one stiffener extending lengthwise at least a portion of a distance between the first side and the second side of the cowl door body, the at least one stiffener comprising a stiffener body comprising a latch housing section disposed at a second stiffener end of the stiffener body proximate the second side of the cowl door body;
• and
• mounting a latch member to the stiffener body, the latch member disposed at least partially within the latch housing section of the stiffener body;
• wherein the stiffener body further comprises a mount portion and a hoop portion projecting outward from the mount portion and the step of mounting the at least one stiffener includes mounting the mount portion to the interior surface of the cowl door body;
• and
• wherein the stiffener body has a first stiffener end opposite the second stiffener end, wherein the stiffener body further comprises a support section that extends from the first stiffener end a portion of a length of the stiffener body and the latch housing section extends from the second stiffener end another portion of the length of the stiffener body, and wherein the hoop portion of the stiffener body has a first width at the latch housing section and a second width at the support section, and the first width is greater than the second width.