What happened
On 14 May 2021, a Hawker Hunter F6.A, registration G-KAXF, was performing a private flight from St Athan Airport in Glamorgan. During the initial stages of the takeoff roll, the transparency of the aircraft canopy became detached from its frame. The component slid toward the rear of the cockpit area. Upon recognizing the failure, the pilot immediately rejected the takeoff and successfully taxied the aircraft back to the apron. There were no injuries to the crew, though the canopy sustained damage during the incident.
The investigation
Following the event, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) conducted an assessment of the failure. The investigation determined that the detachment was caused by an abnormal weakness or fault within the assembly. This specific type of structural deficiency was noted to be undetectable during standard servicing and maintenance inspections. Because there were no recorded instances of similar failures in the fleet, the CAA decided that no formal regulatory action was required at that time. However, the findings are to be shared through industry forums and during inspections by surveyors at ex-military Continuing Airworthiness Maintenance Organisations (CAMO).
Findings
- The primary cause of the incident was a structural weakness in the canopy assembly that was not visible during routine maintenance.
- The pilot's decision to reject the takeoff prevented further escalation of the incident.
- The CAMO responsible for G-KAXF has committed to implementing more rigorous inspection protocols, including additional pressurisation checks, for canopy assemblies across its fleet.