Czech Aircraft Works SPORT CRUISER N797BS

Summary

On 6 January 2009 at about 23:00 local time, a Czech Aircraft Works SPORT CRUISER registered N797BS, operated by Robert A Switzer, was involved in an accident near Casa Grande, Arizona, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

6 January 2009 at 23:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Casa Grande, Arizona, United States

Nearest airport

Casa Grande Municipal Airport (KCGZ)

Coordinates

32.9547, -111.7669

Aircraft

Czech Aircraft Works SPORT CRUISER

Registration

N797BS

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Robert A Switzer

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Casa Grande → Falcon Field

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR09LA075

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's failure to ensure that the canopy was latched prior to takeoff. Contributing to the accident was the inadequate guidance in the Pilot Operating Handbook regarding canopy procedures.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot followed the manufacturer’s before-takeoff checklist, but failed to ensure that the canopy was latched prior to takeoff. The canopy of the Special Light Sport category airplane popped open during the initial climb, about 500 feet above ground. The canopy is hinged in front of the cockpit and rotates upward when open. The pilot said that he tried to keep the canopy closed with his free hand but the canopy continued to rise higher and higher. The pilot turned back to the airport and made an off-field landing. Inspection of the canopy latch mechanism revealed no mechanical anomalies, and the canopy latch hooks aligned with the canopy frame latch slots. When the airplane is static, the canopy will remain in the closed position with the canopy lever in the ‘open’ (unlatched) position. By design the canopy latch lever is positioned behind the pilot’s right elbow, and not in direct view when looking forward or at the instrument panel. The manufacturer does not provide a ‘canopy unlatched’ warning device, and the Pilot Operating Handbook does not include a checklist step to check that the canopy is latched. It also it does not provide procedures for the pilot to execute if the canopy is unlatched or becomes unlatched in flight. The ASTM standard that guides Light Sport Aircraft design does not address canopy latching/locking systems or the associated Pilot Operating Handbook information.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.