What happened
On 1 August 2021, an Extra 330 (registration F-HLIK) was performing aerobatic maneuvers over Avignon-Caumont airport. After taking off from runway 35, the pilot climbed to 4,500 feet and initiated a descent to accelerate. Upon reaching approximately 3,000 feet at an airspeed of 170 knots, the pilot executed a pull-up maneuver to level the aircraft. During this maneuver, an explosion-like sound was heard, and the canopy was lost from the airframe.
The pilot, who sustained a facial injury, immediately aborted the flight. Despite the loss of the canopy, the pilot determined the aircraft remained controllable and landed the plane safely. The passenger, who was seated in the rear, experienced a sudden lateral movement and noted a crack appearing in the canopy before it disappeared.
The investigation
The investigation examined the aircraft's history and the sequence of events leading to the structural failure. The Extra 330 had undergone canopy frame repairs in May 2020, though investigators found no link between these repairs and the incident. During the flight, the aircraft reached a maximum positive load factor of 4.9 g.
Post-flight inspection revealed that while the canopy frame remained attached to the airframe, most of the plexiglass was gone. The aircraft sustained damage including a hole in the leading edge of the right horizontal stabilizer and dents to the fuselage and tail fin. The pilot's helmet face shield was also torn off during the event.
Findings
- The passenger's head struck the right side of the canopy during the pull-up maneuver.
- This impact likely triggered or worsened structural damage, causing the canopy to fail and blow off the aircraft.
- The pilot and passenger successfully managed the emergency by dividing flight and communication tasks, allowing for a safe landing.