WHILE FLYING A C120; A PLT MADE A PRECAUTIONARY LNDG WHEN THE ENG COWLING BECAME LOOSE AND BEGAN TEARING AWAY FROM THE COMPARTMENT. THE ACFT WAS LANDED ON A ROAD WHERE THE COWLING WAS SECURED WITH DUCT TAPE AND SCREWS AND THE ACFT THEN RETURNED TO THE DEST.

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REGARDING THE 'PRECAUTIONARY' LNDG THAT WAS MADE; IN PANA; IL; OF THE CESSNA 120. A FRIEND (WHO IS AN AIRLINE CAPT AND A CFI) AND I WERE FLYING. WE DEPARTED CPS TO DNV AND FLEW TO DNV WITHOUT INCIDENT. FLT TOOK 1 1/2 HRS. PRIOR TO COMMENCING THE RETURN FLT A PREFLT INSPECTION WAS DONE AND NO PROBS WERE DETECTED. ABOUT 40 MINS INTO FLT THE ENG COWLING REAR RELEASE LET LOOSE AND CAUSED THE FRONT RELEASE TO TEAR. THE COWLING WAS FLAPPING ON THE ENG COMPARTMENT AND BEGAN TO TEAR DOWN THE MIDDLE. MY FRIEND WAS THE PIC AT THIS TIME AND CIRCLED AROUND TO LOOK FOR A PLACE TO LAND. THERE WERE NO ARPTS WITHIN CLOSE RANGE (ALL WERE AT LEAST 10 MI AWAY); SO HE LOOKED FOR A FIELD TO LAND. ALL THE FIELDS WERE SOAKING WET FROM RAINS OR STILL HAD CORN STALKS IN THEM; SO THERE APPEARED A ROAD WITH NO OBSTACLES ON WHICH HE SAFELY MADE A LNDG ON THIS ROAD AND PROCEEDED TO REPAIR THE COWLING BY SECURING IT TO THE FRAME WITH APPROX 10 METAL SCREWS AND DUCT TAPE. IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE COWLING WAS VERY SECURE AND SAFE AND AIRWORTHY AND THE FLT WAS CONTINUED TO THE DEST ARPT (CPS) -- APPROX 40 MI AWAY WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT.