first solo today [8D] but just for confidence still had the buddy box on. on the third solo started to tip and the wing hit the ground and rolled it. easy fix on the rudder, again. but one of the sides of the 'cowl' (which is just a covered wood on either side of the engine) broke and is now held in place just by the covering. now i dont think it is a very crucial peice and it would work fine is I broke of the other side too. so should I bother peeling back the covering and fixing it or leave it as is held on by the covering or take it off?

sorry that was a mouth full and may have been confusing but thanks for the help in advance!

I think i already know the answer....

What type of plane is it?
It should not be hard to fix peel back the covering and glue or epoxy it back together. If you hit hard enough to damage the "cowl" check for damage to the firewall. Do not fly an airplane that has been in an accident until you check it over well for damage external and internal.
It is not a good idea to fly a plane with loose parts at any time, take the few minutes to make it right, and check your balance after any repairs or mods to the airframe.

Thanks, i figured. I am just afraid it will look like crap when I am done fixing it.

You didn't say what kind of plane !!! If it is just a CHEEK, you can probably just split the covering a little and ease some glue in. Then either glue the covering closed or seal it some other way.

Trainers look like Heck without the cheeks, but if that's what you have to do. What did your instructor suggest ?? ENJOY !!! RED

oh yea i'm sorry, its a midwest aerobat. and I didn't notice it was broken till after I left the field.

it still seems like its on strong, like it only broke 1/2 maybe 2/3 of the way through, but the only way to fix it is to break whats left holding it, and thats what has me on the fence. it definitely seems strong enough that nothing, except another crash, would make it come off during flight. its not like it is flopping around hanging by the skin.
thanks

Spread it open a bit force some wood glue into the break from the inside then tape it back into position. You should not have to mess with the covering at all if you are lucky.

You could probably dribble some thin CA into the crack and press it together until it sets.

I think I am going to try to do that, but I can't even really open it enough to get it in there. since it only seems weak bending out and inward seems as strong as ever, I will just try to get a little glue in there and have a thin bolt go across to slightly pull it toward the other.

well, i helped it finish coming off because I couldn't find a thin 4" bolt. so I am reglueing it.
thank you all for the push I needed to do this right. wish me luck for my next solo, cause I probably won't be on the box.

The cheeks are 99% show. Some planes like the Stik series have NOTHING forward of the firewall.

good luck on the solo, maybe tomorrow.