History of Flight
The airplane impacted a small lake approximately 0.8 miles east of the approach end of runway 20. A pilot in another aircraft reported hearing the accident pilot announce on the radio that he was returning to the airport because of a canopy problem.
Aircraft Information
The pilot owned and constructed the amateur-built airplane, which received its airworthiness certification on June 27, 2019. According to the pilot’s logbook, the first flight occurred on November 18, 2020, and the airplane had accumulated 7.3 hours of flight time as of July 31, 2021. The final entry in the logbook, dated August 27, 2021, was for a flight review in a different make and model airplane.
Information provided by the pilot’s son described the canopy frame as hinged at its forward end on the left and right sides of the fuselage. The canopy had two latches, one on each side. The latch operating handle, located about midway between the forward and aft end of the canopy, operated a pin that engaged with the bulkhead just aft of the canopy’s rear bow. No data were available to determine the effect of an open canopy on the airplane’s performance.
Wreckage and Impact Information
Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed fragmentation of the structure. The engine was not recovered. The left forward canopy hinge and portions of the canopy bow, with clear plexiglass still adhered, were recovered. The right canopy hinge and canopy locking mechanism were not found. The left canopy hinge pivot bolt remained in place. Examination of the recovered components disclosed no anomalies.