What happened
On September 27, 2023, a Zlin 526F aircraft, registration SP-EMB, departed from Krosno Airport (EPKR) to perform a scheduled aerobatic training flight. After completing a series of aerobatic maneuvers, the pilot initiated a descent to return for landing. During this descent, the cockpit canopy became detached from the airframe and fell to the ground in the village of Suchodół, near Krosno. The falling canopy did not cause any damage upon impact with the ground.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the structural integrity of the canopy attachment points. Upon inspection of the aircraft following the incident, investigators discovered that the retaining strips on both sides of the cockpit were missing. These specific strips are critical components as they also serve as the mechanism for the emergency canopy jettison system.
Findings
The investigation determined that the primary cause of the separation was that the pilot likely struck the lever at the end of the emergency canopy jettison linkage with their left elbow or forearm during the descent phase of the flight.