What happened
On June 16, 2001, a privately owned Rutan Cozy (registration F-PRSC) was performing a takeoff from runway 32 at the Montauban aerodrome. Immediately following rotation, while the main landing gear was still in contact with the runway, the aircraft experienced a sudden nose-down pitch. The nose gear briefly struck the ground before the aircraft regained flight.
Shortly after liftoff, witnesses observed the canopy begin to unlatch and then swing open completely toward the right side of the aircraft. This sudden aerodynamic change caused the aircraft to enter a slow right-hand turn. The aircraft subsequently lost altitude and struck a building located approximately 250 meters from the end of the runway. The impact resulted in two fatalities and the total destruction of the aircraft.
The investigation
Investigators examined the wreckage and the crash site, finding debris from the cockpit—including seat foam and various papers—scattered along the runway edges, likely shredded by the propeller. The rear section of the aircraft, including the wings, came to rest on the roof of a building attached to a restaurant. The forward section of the cockpit was located inside an office within the same building.
Technical examination of the cockpit controls revealed that the engine was producing power at the time of impact, as the throttle was at full power and the magnetos were set to both positions. The investigation focused heavily on the canopy's locking mechanism, which consists of three levers connected by an adjustable linkage bar. Investigators discovered that the front lever had been modified with extra holes, causing the linkage bar to be positioned higher than the original design specifications. Furthermore, the safety latch, intended to prevent a full opening in the event of a failure, failed to function as intended.
Findings
- The investigation established that the pilot likely opened the canopy while at the runway holding point to clear rainwater or fog from the windscreen, as it was raining at the time.
- The subsequent locking of the canopy was imperfect, likely due to the improper positioning of the front lever caused by the unauthorized modifications.
- The sudden nose-down pitch during rotation may have contributed to the unlatching of the lever.
- The safety latch and its stop-bolt failed to prevent the canopy from opening fully, as the modified linkage bar prevented the latch from properly engaging the stop.
- The sudden opening of the canopy created significant aerodynamic drag and asymmetry, making the aircraft uncontrollable during the critical takeoff phase.