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  #21  
Old 06-12-2015, 10:10 PM
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donaziza donaziza is offline
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Atlanta
Posts: 745
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For what its worth, I've got two of those hold your canopy open thingies. One holds the canopy about half open as we've all seen, but the 2ed one holds it open about 2 inches. Just enough to let nice cool prop wash in, but also lets enough daylight in, so I see it before takeoff. (No, I don't do this at night)
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  #22  
Old 06-13-2015, 04:20 AM
F1R F1R is offline
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: ____
Posts: 829
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A slider on a Rocket, if not latched stays shut from experience.

I have no plans to repeat the test. It was a very sinking feeling, reaching to unlatch on rollout only to realize I took off and flew 1/2 hour that way.

This was a carry over habit from winter, as I often need to open the canopy 4 inches to scoop air with a gloved hand to de fog the inside of the windscreen just before take off. It was spring time with no need to clear but it was not latched! After that event I have a keen alertness for the prop wash tone present when not latched

Donaziza, what does that device you refer to look like?

Last edited by F1R : 06-13-2015 at 04:32 AM.
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  #23  
Old 06-13-2015, 05:21 AM
n816kc n816kc is offline
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Winter Haven, FL
Posts: 263
Default 6 slider

Closed and unlatched canopy on my 6 will stay closed. It's pretty easy to latch when in flight, just needs a little forward pressure on the bottom edge of the canopy bow/frame. Haven't tried (and not going to) but it feels like it would be very difficult to open in flight.
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  #24  
Old 06-15-2015, 09:31 AM
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dave4754 dave4754 is offline
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Edson, Alberta, Canada
Posts: 483
Default Thanks for sharing

I thank you for sharing such an easily done "mistake".

I had one once when i had not flown awhile and late for a flight to Edmonton. Went through my checklist to fast, liftoff took place without incident but the plane was sluggish and heavy and would not climb well at all. I had left the carb heat on!

Simple mistakes can cause large probs eh?

Good luck with the rebuild, I know the Kelowna airport well and how HOT it can get for sure.
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  #25  
Old 06-16-2015, 12:55 PM
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mv031161 mv031161 is offline
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Tybee Island, GA
Posts: 664
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SMO View Post
You know what they say about taildragger pilots, there are those that have ground looped and those that will. I was in the "will" category, and while I would never have said "it couldn't happen to me" I sure didn't think it would happen on take off!

Here is the story. It was 99* F in Kelowna on Monday afternoon when I was leaving for the short (.3) flight home to Salmon Arm. I ignored the checklist item that says ?Canopy Latched? and kept the canopy cracked open to get some air (tipover canopy). Was cleared for takeoff and FORGOT the canopy was still cracked open about a half inch. Full throttle and a bootful of right rudder to keep straight, About a second later as the speed was coming up so did the canopy. Took me by surprise and I instinctively looked at it and reached for it with my throttle hand. During that half second distraction I obviously reduced right rudder pressure and around we went. Fastest 90 degree corner I ever made. By the time I pulled the throttle back to idle it was way too late. Scraped the wingtip as we went around and as I exited the side of the runway the tail came up (don?t know exactly why) and buried the spinner about 6? into the ground just off the pavement. I thought for a millisecond I was going over but fortunately the action stopped there with the tail in the air. I was probably less than 100' down the runway from where I started my takeoff run. You can see the taxiway that provided access to the runway in the picture below. No injuries other than a very bruised ego!

Damage ? right gear leg and the engine mount are bent. Right wing has a wrinkled outboard skin - will need to drill it off to see if the outboard spar is bent. Prop blades are toast and of course the prop hub and the engine will need to be torn down for inspection. Haven't dialed the crank yet but don't hold out much hope - full power strike on the pavement. Right wheel pant (front half) is heavily damaged. Other repairable fiberglass damage around the gear leg fairings and wing tip. Will need a new wheel, actually scraped the side of the rim on the ground and took a chunk off it but the rubber stayed on and it still holds air.

Lesson learned: Build a slider, tipover canopies suck!


.............oh, and follow the checklist regardless of how hot it is.


Thanks for sharing! it happen to me as well...I have a big RED light now telling me if the canopy is unlatched / open..!
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  #26  
Old 06-16-2015, 01:09 PM
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osxuser osxuser is offline
 
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Pasadena CA
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I have a post-takeoff clearance verbal flow I use regardless of airplane:

Doors and windows - closed and latched
Seatbelts - on
Trim - set for takeoff
Mixture - set for takeoff

Kind of like the lights-camera-action thing that some people use. Those are the things I figure that can kill you during the takeoff role, so one last double check as I'm taxiing out on the runway.

Scraped a wing on the runway on Sunday, so I feel for ya. Embarrassing as heck no matter what.
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