What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
Orlando FSDO was notified an engine cowling "departed" the aircraft on takeoff in Sanford, FL (sfb) on 4/29/2026 at 1024 EDT. Aircraft returned and landed immediately with no injuries or damage to aircraft other than "upper" engine cowling and was recovered by airport "ops" on airport property. Further investigation revealed the (2) cowling pins were installed but may not have been installed properly as they are "fed thru" the lower fixed-cowling hinge's. the pilot advised he performed a pre-flight inspection and verified the pins were installed. I verbally counseled the pilot to confirm the "pins' are installed correctly and should be "snug" to the touch as well as visually inspected. I also counseled the mechanic about the "cowling pin's" installation and the challenge when installing and feeding thru the lower hinges "blindly". This is a known anomaly design with the "pins" installed blindly on this aircraft.
As the FAA filed it
ORLANDO FSDO WAS NOTIFIED AN ENGINE COWLING "DEPARTED" THE AIRCRAFT ON TAKEOFF IN SANFORD, FL (SFB) ON 4/29/2026 AT 1024 EDT. AIRCRAFT RETURNED AND LANDED IMMEDIATELY WITH NO INJURIES OR DAMAGE TO AIRCRAFT OTHER THAN "UPPER" ENGINE COWLING AND WAS RECOVERED BY AIRPORT "OPS" ON AIRPORT PROPERTY. FURTHER INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE (2) COWLING PINS WERE INSTALLED BUT MAY NOT HAVE BEEN INSTALLED PROPERLY AS THEY ARE "FED THRU" THE LOWER FIXED-COWLING HINGE'S. THE PILOT ADVISED HE PERFORMED A PRE-FLIGHT INSPECTION AND VERIFIED THE PINS WERE INSTALLED. I VERBALLY COUNSELED THE PILOT TO CONFIRM THE "PINS' ARE INSTALLED CORRECTLY AND SHOULD BE "SNUG" TO THE TOUCH AS WELL AS VISUALLY INSPECTED. I ALSO COUNSELED THE MECHANIC ABOUT THE "COWLING PIN'S" INSTALLATION AND THE CHALLENGE WHEN INSTALLING AND FEEDING THRU THE LOWER HINGES "BLINDLY". THIS IS A KNOWN ANOMALY DESIGN WITH THE "PINS" INSTALLED BLINDLY ON THIS AIRCRAFT.