What happened
On April 14, 2018, an instructor-pilot was conducting a scenic flight with a passenger in an SZD 54-2 Perkoz glider. The flight originated from the Biała Podlaska (EPBP) airfield. At approximately 11:54 LMT, while performing a sideslip maneuver with a left wing bank during the landing approach, the cockpit canopy opened spontaneously.
At an altitude of roughly 50 meters, the canopy became detached from the aircraft. The detached component struck the leading edge of the right wing, resulting in minor structural damage to the wing. Only the right portion of the canopy frame, including the emergency release locks, remained attached to the glider. The pilot successfully continued the approach and completed a landing on the airfield without further incident.
The investigation
The investigation, conducted by the operator's commission, focused on the mechanical failure of the canopy enclosure. Investigators confirmed that neither the pilot nor the passenger sustained any injuries. However, the missing portion of the canopy was not recovered by the time the investigation concluded.
Findings
- The cockpit canopy detached spontaneously during a landing maneuver.
- The impact of the detached canopy caused minor damage to the right wing's leading edge.
- The specific cause of the canopy's spontaneous opening could not be determined.
Safety action
Following the incident, the following preventive measures were implemented:
- Flight personnel will undergo refresher training regarding pre-flight procedures in accordance with the SZD 54-2 Perkoz Flight Manual.
- For flights involving non-crew members (passengers), ground crew and flight crew are now required to verify the correct locking of the cockpit canopy from the passenger side.