results of opening the canopy in flight

[PCHunt]

Originally Posted by N661DJ

I recently had my tip up canopy come open in flight, forgot to close the top latch.
On take off, full power, 800', 120KIAS. I thought I had been hit by a sidewinder missile, the canopy came open about 8".
I immediately grabbed the handle and tried to close it, it would only come down about 4" or so, pulling as hard as I could actually lifting myself out of the seat.
I realized that I needed to pull the power back but only had 2 hands and was reluctant to let go of the canopy handle, didn't know what that might of done, concerned that the canopy might come off and the results would not be good. After a second or two, I decided that my only option was to let go of the stick and pull the power. BAD decision, the airplane did an immediate, hard, nose down and left turn, by the time I had reduced the power and got my hand back on the stick I was at 400' looking straight at the ground. Not a good place to be. After getting the airplane under control, I was able to successfully land on the intersecting runway, mid field from 400' or so altitude.

I am 78 years old been flying for 40 year, several thousand hours of time, mostly in RV's, aside from an incident with ice in a Mooney, this is as close as I have ever come.

I have since sold the airplane and have related this story to the new owner in hopes that he will not make the same mistake. DOUBLE CHECK THE CANOPY LATCH. In closing, This is a fantastic airplane, the problem was with the pilot
not the airplane.

Fly safe,
Dick

I've had quite the opposite experience. When my RV-6A Tip-up canopy popped open, I just kept flying the plane. Never tried to close the canopy. The plane flew almost normally, with a slight, easily controlled nose down pitching moment. The canopy "floated" about 6-8" open. Trimmed it out, RTB, and flew a normal pattern, landed, and the canopy closed itself as I slowed in the rollout.
I suppose YMMV....

[sailvi767]

Originally Posted by PCHunt

I've had quite the opposite experience. When my RV-6A Tip-up canopy popped open, I just kept flying the plane. Never tried to close the canopy. The plane flew almost normally, with a slight, easily controlled nose down pitching moment. The canopy "floated" about 6-8" open. Trimmed it out, RTB, and flew a normal pattern, landed, and the canopy closed itself as I slowed in the rollout.
I suppose YMMV....

My experience was exactly the same. The aircraft did have a easily correctable nose down pitching moment but otherwise flew normally.
G

[printbr]

Originally Posted by JBPILOT

Had a friend take off without latching tip up RV-12. Panicked, and turned and landed the best he could downwind. Totaled plane and bruised himself a bunch. Best not to try to close it. Slow down and land as soon as possible.

Was this friend in Minnesota around 2010? If so I have that RV12 now. It was rebuilt and flying. I did take off once without latching the canopy and immediately noticed before leaving the ground so pull the power and taxied off the runway and latched it. Now I check it religiously several times before departing.

[DaleB]

Originally Posted by printbr

Now I check it religiously several times before departing.

You and me both, brother. I was tempted to put a canopy latch switch in line with the spar pins, but that would make it a pain to taxi with e canopy unlatched. So, I was working on a little adapter to add a canopy switch, active only when RPM exceeds a set threshold, but didn't finish testing it. Figured just getting better about following the pre-takeoff checklist religiously was probably a better option.

[Piper J3]

Originally Posted by DaleB

Figured just getting better about following the pre-takeoff checklist religiously was probably a better option.

Now there's a thought...

[HansLab]

I just put a microswitch behind the canopy handle, quite sharp so, that a red light lits on the panel when the canopy isn' t fully closed. That way I can taxi with the canopy partly open, the red light blinking (and the checklist) will help me remember.

[seagull]

Took off today during climb out the wife noticed a vibration noise and pulled down on the canopy handle saying it was coming from there. I grabbed the handle and gave it a little twist, ( obviously not so little) and it came unlatch. I was unable to get it latched in flight even slowing to 60kts so returned to the airport. The wife easily held the canopy “close” to closed. I noticed no change in the plane’s stability.

[Vern]

1-maintain aircraft control
2-analyze the situation and take proper action
3-Land as soon as conditions permit. Do not overfly a suitable airfield.

[Dvalcik]

I also had a latch failure on 4/4/21. The below link is the post on vaf and the link to the video during the event. It was a non event

Remember to fly the plane first.

https://vansairforce.net/community/s...d.php?t=194006


https://youtu.be/WXmbMc04wsk

[RFSchaller]

This is interesting. I seem to recall a fatal RV-12 crash a year or two ago where there was conjecture that a failed canopy latch caused the canopy to pop up on final disrupting airflow over the stabilator causing the aircraft to pitch down. This incident would indicate that doesn’t happen.