What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
On Friday 1/13/2023 flight instructor / pilot in command (PIC) privacy data omitted had prepared for a flight in privacy data omitted with a student at kmyf (Montgomery Field). At the time the aircraft battery appeared to be dead. The PIC had removed the engine bay cowling to look for a plug to jump start the aircraft. The plug was not in the engine bay. The PIC had reinstalled the engine bay colwing and it was determined that the aircraft could not be started, and therfore the flight was cancelled. The battery was brought to the attention of the owner and the owner had the battery changed, however the battery was not located in the engine bay and therfore the engine cowling was not checked by a mechanic. On 1/15/2023 flight instructor / pilot in command and a student pilot privacy data omitted, and two passengers departed runway 28L at kmyf (Montgomery Field) in privacy data omitted with the student pilot at the controls. At aproximately 100-300FT AGL after take off the engine cowling became loose on the left side and popped up. A positive exchange of controls was made between the student pilot and the PIC. The PIC then reduced power and attempted to land back on the field. The PIC then realized that this was not possible so a go around was immediatley attempted with full power reapplied to the aircraft. A 20-30 degree turn was attempted by the PIC to try and make runway 23, which lead the aircraft to the dirt field where the aircraft came to a stop. All 4 occupants of the aircraft got out of the aircraft unharmed.
As the FAA filed it
ON FRIDAY 1/13/2023 FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR / PILOT IN COMMAND (PIC) ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ HAD PREPARED FOR A FLIGHT IN ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ WITH A STUDENT AT KMYF (MONTGOMERY FIELD). AT THE TIME THE AIRCRAFT BATTERY APPEARED TO BE DEAD. THE PIC HAD REMOVED THE ENGINE BAY COWLING TO LOOK FOR A PLUG TO JUMP START THE AIRCRAFT. THE PLUG WAS NOT IN THE ENGINE BAY. THE PIC HAD REINSTALLED THE ENGINE BAY COLWING AND IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE AIRCRAFT COULD NOT BE STARTED, AND THERFORE THE FLIGHT WAS CANCELLED. THE BATTERY WAS BROUGHT TO THE ATTENTION OF THE OWNER AND THE OWNER HAD THE BATTERY CHANGED, HOWEVER THE BATTERY WAS NOT LOCATED IN THE ENGINE BAY AND THERFORE THE ENGINE COWLING WAS NOT CHECKED BY A MECHANIC. ON 1/15/2023 FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR / PILOT IN COMMAND AND A STUDENT PILOT ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^, AND TWO PASSENGERS DEPARTED RUNWAY 28L AT KMYF (MONTGOMERY FIELD) IN ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ WITH THE STUDENT PILOT AT THE CONTROLS. AT APROXIMATELY 100-300FT AGL AFTER TAKE OFF THE ENGINE COWLING BECAME LOOSE ON THE LEFT SIDE AND POPPED UP. A POSITIVE EXCHANGE OF CONTROLS WAS MADE BETWEEN THE STUDENT PILOT AND THE PIC. THE PIC THEN REDUCED POWER AND ATTEMPTED TO LAND BACK ON THE FIELD. THE PIC THEN REALIZED THAT THIS WAS NOT POSSIBLE SO A GO AROUND WAS IMMEDIATLEY ATTEMPTED WITH FULL POWER REAPPLIED TO THE AIRCRAFT. A 20-30 DEGREE TURN WAS ATTEMPTED BY THE PIC TO TRY AND MAKE RUNWAY 23, WHICH LEAD THE AIRCRAFT TO THE DIRT FIELD WHERE THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO A STOP. ALL 4 OCCUPANTS OF THE AIRCRAFT GOT OUT OF THE AIRCRAFT UNHARMED.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.