A Navion pilot reported rushing his preflight at night without a flashlight and missing unsecured cowling latches. During takeoff the cowling came loose forcing an airborne rejected takeoff that resulted in a hard landing and aircraft damage.

Narrative

During takeoff; the engine cowling became unsecured and started flapping. I immediately reduced power to idle and attempted to land back on the runway. However; I maintained a nose high attitude which caused a very hard landing. The left wing tip struck the ground causing moderate damage to the wing. I believe the cowling latches were inadequately checked during the pre-flight inspection. A contributing factor was the fact it was nighttime and I could not see adequately. I should have used a flashlight during my preflight or postponed the flight until morning. Also; I had a mind-set at the time of being in a rush. This negatively impacted my judgment. During the engine run-up check I was unable to clearly hear the Tower over the radio because the engine was much louder than normal. I failed to recognize the warning sign that something was not normal. In hindsight I can recognize an unwillingness to accurately and honestly assess the situation; commonly referred to as 'Get there-itis.' To prevent a recurrence the most important step is adding the acronym 'I'M SAFE' to my aircraft checklist: 'Illness Medication Sleep Alcohol Fatigue Eaten'. I would like to add R for 'Rushed?' I'm SAFER!