Accident Overview
On June 11, 2013, at approximately 0633 central daylight time, an experimental-amateur built Vans RV-12, registration N666BE, was substantially damaged during a hard landing at Chadron Municipal Airport (CDR) in Chadron, Nebraska. The accident occurred when the canopy opened shortly after takeoff. The certified airline transport pilot, who was also the aircraft owner and builder, sustained serious injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the local flight conducted under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91.
Pilot Account
The pilot reported that the takeoff roll was normal, and he rotated at 70 miles per hour (mph). As the airplane became airborne, the tip-up canopy popped open about 3 inches. The pilot grabbed the canopy with his hand while simultaneously lowering the nose and partially reducing power in an attempt to land on the remaining runway. At that point, the airplane had accelerated to 80 mph and was about 50 feet above the runway. As the airplane pitched, the pilot lost his grip on the canopy when it opened to the full vertical position. He stated that this caused the nose to pitch over further, and when he applied back pressure on the control stick, there was no response from the elevator or rudder. Unable to close the canopy, the pilot managed to level the wings before the airplane landed hard, resulting in substantial damage to both wings and the fuselage.
Postaccident Examination
An inspector from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) examined the airplane after the accident and found that the canopy latch could be operated, though there was slight resistance when locking the latch into the detent position. The pilot noted that the canopy latch was hard to latch and that he most likely did not secure it properly.
Data Analysis
Data from the pilot's handheld GPSMAP 496 showed that the airplane departed runway 2 at 0633:21 and achieved a maximum average groundspeed of 64 knots. The aircraft's track began on the runway centerline but moved progressively left of the centerline before the data ended at 0633:57. Data from the onboard Dynon FlightDEK D 180 display was also downloaded, but due to its 60-second sampling rate and the short flight duration, no useful information was obtained for the accident flight.
Canopy Design and Manufacturer Response
The RV-12 canopy is hinged at the front and latched at the rear behind the pilot. When opened, it moves up and forward about 90 degrees vertical. According to Van's Aircraft Inc., a seated pilot cannot reach the canopy handle if the canopy is more than one-third open, and it is completely out of reach for even the tallest pilots when more than halfway open.
In a written statement, Van's Aircraft Inc. indicated that they have not conducted testing regarding the aerodynamic effects of the RV-12 canopy opening in flight. They noted that they could not contest the pilot's claims that the canopy opened to the fully vertical position, acknowledging there may be unknown aerodynamic conditions. Van's reported field experience with tip-up canopies opening in flight on other models (RV-6/6A, RV-7/7A, and RV-9/9A) and on the RV-12, with no prior loss of control. This accident was the first reported instance where pitch authority was affected due to a canopy opening in flight on any Van's model equipped with a tip-up canopy.
In response to this accident, Van's Aircraft Inc. announced that they would issue Notification 14-05-22, recommending that owners of all RV-12 aircraft equipped with SkyView or Garmin G3X Touch systems add a canopy latch warning system. This system includes a switch tied into the avionics to alert the pilot if the canopy is unlatched or improperly latched when engine rpm exceeds 3,700 rpm. The modification is not available for RV-12 aircraft equipped with the Dynon 180 EFIS units.