Pilot Debrief

HALLADAY ROY LOCKHEED near Denver, CO — 2018-09-09

Final reportGAA18CA544
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Date
2018-09-09
Location
Denver, CO, USA
Airport
BJC
Aircraft
HALLADAY ROY LOCKHEED
Registration
N514RH
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0

Probable cause

The pilot's failure to verify that the emergency canopy release was in the correct position when opening the canopy during landing, which resulted in the canopy separating from the airplane and subsequently impacting the empennage.

NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that, upon landing, he activated the canopy motor to open the canopy about 2 inches, but the canopy continued to open, separated from the airframe, and struck the empennage. He added that it was standard procedure upon landing to open the canopy slightly to aid in slowing the airplane and egress in a runway excursion event. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the empennage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot added that the emergency canopy release, which anchors the canopy to the airframe when the canopy motor was turned on, was inadvertently released during the flight.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • Photos
  • 2 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents2

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