GA small transport made takeoff with left engine cowl not latched. Return land.

Attributes
ACN	109659
Time
Date	198904
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : bwi
State Reference	MD
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 2000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : bwi
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Transport, Low Wing, 2 Recip Eng
Flight Phase	climbout : takeoff ground : preflight
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 30 flight time total : 1200 flight time type : 250
ASRS Report	109659
Person 2
Affiliation	Other
Function	observation : passenger
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical non adherence : far
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : declared emergency none taken : unable other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I was preflting the aircraft, which in addition to normal procedures, I had to remove the cowling covers to ensure there were no bird's nests. The 2 prior flts, I had found 2 well developed nests in each engine. I completed the inspection of the left engine and was in the process of securing the cowling cover when my adolescent sons started playing around the aircraft. I took disciplinary action and continued my preflight inspection. As I glanced over at the left engine, I noticed cowling cover bulging. I had not completely secured it during the preflight. I contacted tower and immediately returned for landing. It appears it was this precise time that the children had distracted me and when I returned to complete the preflight I didn't complete securing the cowling cover.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: GA SMT MADE TKOF WITH LEFT ENGINE COWL NOT LATCHED. RETURN LAND.

Narrative: I WAS PREFLTING THE ACFT, WHICH IN ADDITION TO NORMAL PROCS, I HAD TO REMOVE THE COWLING COVERS TO ENSURE THERE WERE NO BIRD'S NESTS. THE 2 PRIOR FLTS, I HAD FOUND 2 WELL DEVELOPED NESTS IN EACH ENG. I COMPLETED THE INSPECTION OF THE LEFT ENG AND WAS IN THE PROCESS OF SECURING THE COWLING COVER WHEN MY ADOLESCENT SONS STARTED PLAYING AROUND THE ACFT. I TOOK DISCIPLINARY ACTION AND CONTINUED MY PREFLT INSPECTION. AS I GLANCED OVER AT THE LEFT ENG, I NOTICED COWLING COVER BULGING. I HAD NOT COMPLETELY SECURED IT DURING THE PREFLT. I CONTACTED TWR AND IMMEDIATELY RETURNED FOR LNDG. IT APPEARS IT WAS THIS PRECISE TIME THAT THE CHILDREN HAD DISTRACTED ME AND WHEN I RETURNED TO COMPLETE THE PREFLT I DIDN'T COMPLETE SECURING THE COWLING COVER.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of August 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.