Kermit Weeks' Sopwith Pup loses its engine cowling.

[AndyJWest]

An engine cowling come off in flight can never be a good thing, but having it happen with a rotary-engined aircraft is possibly worse, as Kermit Weeks found out. The cowl couldn't go backwards (struts etc in the way), and it couldn't go forwards (prop in the way, though it took a chunk out of that), so the rotating engine basically shredded it into multiple pieces, which then did further damage to the upper wing, wrapped around the rigging etc. Could have been nasty, but fortunately Kermit was doing a pass down the runway when it happened, and he was able to put it down without further damage:

 

[Trooper117]

Ouch!!!... glad he is ok!

[Feathered_IV]

My god.  Must have been terrifying.

[PapaFlo]

Glad everything went well. Parts can be fixed and replaced, he not.

Great portion of luck and great flying skills saved the day.

 

 

[Archie]

Lucky man! Be careful Kermit!

[HagarTheHorrible]

Do the Dev's ever send a free copy to these guys and ask for opinions and feedback ?

[Monostripezebra]

outch.

[II/JG17_HerrMurf]

Aviate, navigate, communicate...............well done.