What happened
On 1 July 2014, a Zenair CH 601ULA Zodiac, registration G-CBAP, departed Easter Airfield in Ross-shire for a private local flight. The aircraft was carrying two persons on board. Shortly after the takeoff sequence was completed, the aircraft's canopy unexpectedly opened under the force of the slipstream. The sudden opening caused the aircraft to pitch up due to a significant increase in drag. During the event, the canopy shattered. The passenger was able to manually hold the remaining pieces of the canopy in place to prevent them from flapping in the wind. The pilot successfully returned the aircraft to the airfield, landing without further incident. There were no injuries to the occupants and no damage was sustained to the aircraft other than the shattered canopy.
The investigation
The investigation was based on an accident report submitted by the pilot. Investigators examined the mechanics of the canopy's failure and the cockpit's securing mechanisms. It was determined that the canopy latch had become disengaged during flight. The investigation focused on the state of the locking pin used to secure the latch prior to departure. The pilot also reviewed his pre-flight inspection procedures, noting that his physical checks had failed to identify that the pin was not correctly positioned.
Findings
- The canopy opened because the securing latch moved loose due to a combination of vibration and wind pressure.
- The locking pin for the latch had not been properly engaged.
- The pilot's pre-flight 'touch' checks were insufficient to detect the incorrect pin location.