What happened
On August 14, 2019, an aero club was conducting glider training flights at Bydgoszcz airport (EPBY). An instructor and a student were operating an SZD-9 bis 1E Bocian glider, performing a specific training maneuver involving S-turns and a landing with a tailwind.
As the glider was on final approach, approximately 20 meters above the ground, the front cockpit canopy opened. The force of the oncoming airflow subsequently tore the canopy from the aircraft, causing it to fall onto a grassy area of the airfield. The glider completed the landing without further incident, and no injuries were reported.
The investigation
The investigation examined the circumstances of the flight and the mechanical state of the aircraft. The crew consisted of an instructor and a student pilot. The investigation focused on the sequence of events leading to the canopy failure and the cockpit configuration prior to the landing phase.
Findings
- The primary cause of the incident was the improper closure of the front cockpit canopy by the student pilot.
Following the event, the operator implemented preventive measures, designating a specific person to assist student pilots with entering the cockpit, securing seatbelbelts, and verifying that the canopy locks are correctly engaged and closed.