Cowling latch

A cowling latch for an engine nacelle or the like, the latch comprising:

• a keeper assembly having a pin extending outwardly therefrom;
• a latch assembly having a latch handle pivotally mounted thereon, the latch assembly having a collet expander end plate mounted on one end of the assembly and adjacent the keeper assembly when the assemblies are disposed adjacent each other, the end plate having an aperture therethrough for receiving the pin, the end plate having a circular cam surface surrounding the aperture;
• and
• a collet assembly mounted in the latch assembly and having one end linked to the latch handle, the collet assembly receiving one end of the pin therein when the latch handle is in an opened position and the latch assembly is disposed adjacent the keeper assembly, the collet assembly securing the pin therein when the latch handle is in a closed position, the collet having a collet linked to the latch handle, the collet having collet fingers extending outwardly therefrom and received in a circular hollow collet guide, the pin received inside the collet guide and secured by the ends of the collet fingers when the latch handle is in a closed position, the ends of the collet fingers engaging the cam surface of the end plate when the latch handle is open and the cam surface expands the fingers outwardly for releasing the pin received in the collet guide.