What happened
On 16 April 2000, an Extra EA 300, registration G-IIZI, was conducting a private flight approximately 5 nautical miles south of Yeovil, Somerset. The aircraft was flying at 6,000 feet at a speed of 110 knots, maintaining a close formation with another aeroplane positioned to the starboard side. During the flight, the pilot was performing a moderate, wings-level sideslip to the left. While using between one-quarter and one-third right rudder, the aircraft's canopy suddenly detached without warning.
Following the loss of the canopy, the aircraft remained under control, though the pilot encountered difficulty reading the flight instruments due to the slipstream. The pilot initiated a descent at minimum airspeed and directed the aircraft toward the nearest airfield at Yeovil. The passenger was able to protect themselves from the wind by ducking behind the coaming. The aircraft subsequently landed safely on the westerly runway at Yeovil with no injuries to the crew or passenger.
The investigation
The investigation examined the physical state of the aircraft following the incident. While the right-hand rail of the canopy frame remained attached to its hinges, the left-hand side of the frame, which houses the three latches, had broken away along with most of the perspex bubble. The accompanying aircraft in formation reported that the canopy appeared to disintegrate rapidly, and the pilot of that aircraft noted a muffled thud as debris struck their plane. Inspection of the second aircraft revealed minor damage to a propeller blade, a landing gear leg, and the tailplane.
Findings
- The aircraft was in a left-hand sideslip at the time of the incident.
- The left-hand side of the canopy frame, containing the three latches, had separated from the aircraft.
- There was no evidence of debris inside the cockpit, suggesting the canopy opened outward.
- The aircraft manufacturer confirmed there were no known histories of structural failure regarding the canopy or its latching mechanism for this model.
- The investigation concluded that the canopy was likely inadvertently unlatched during the manoeuvre.