Incident Overview
A pilot was practicing stop-and-go landings when, during the second takeoff, the cockpit canopy began to open and rotate forward as the airplane reached about 10 feet above the runway. The pilot reached up with his right hand to the canopy handle, located above his head, to hold the canopy down. He then decided to abort the takeoff and pointed the airplane back toward the runway.
Handling During Abort
With one hand on the control stick and the other on the canopy, the pilot was unable to manipulate the throttle. Consequently, the airplane landed faster than normal. During the landing roll, the airplane departed the runway.
Damage
The incident resulted in substantial damage to the left wing root and buckling of the fuselage behind the firewall.
Post-Accident Examination
A post-accident examination of the canopy locking mechanism revealed that the canopy latch and handle were functioning correctly.