Canopy cracked in flight!

[coachwatson]

Hi all - I was flying in my RV-8 on a cold day and was climbing to avoid some clouds (and potential icing), and heard two large pops or bangs at around 15,000 feet (around 0F or -11C temp).

When I landed, I saw that the canopy was cracked almost 3/4 of the way around (see picture). Any advice on how to deal with this?

I really don't fancy paying $1700+ for a replacement that will crack again in the cold.

 

[BH1166]

Gallagher!

 

[Walt]

Recent thread...
https://vansairforce.net/threads/for-canopy-cracks-gallagher-is-the-goat.231598/#post-1809730

 

[georgemohr]

That sucks so bad, sorry man.

 

[coachwatson]

Wow, thanks for the quick replies! I'll email Gallagher. I guess tape will have to work for the ferry flight out to him. I wish I had time to unmount it and continue to cut it - the crack seems perfectly square with the rest of the canopy structure.

 

[Dan 57]

my own experience at fixing a crack... a lot of work, but ended up pretty good. A local builder had the same standard crack as yours, repaired it, and it was almost invisible.

 

[Jjackh10]

Not to hijack this thread but it's got me thinking about canopy cracks. When you fab and weld up a steel structure stresses are introduced. If they are a concern you heat treat the part at a prescribed temperature and time to relieve those stresses. When you install a canopy you introduce stresses similarly with a little bending and pulling to fit the frame.

I'm curious about the properties of lexan, and if it would be possible to do the same with some prescribed temperature/ time? Perhaps this would reduce the likelihood of later cracks?

 

[PandaCub]

I'll email Gallagher. I guess tape will have to work for the ferry flight out to him...

I assume you've stop-drilled it, right? You may want to do that before any more flights. As I recall, I used a 3/32" bit and did it by hand to avoid heat from power drill RPM. Thread from the Diamond site here:

Cracked Canopy Repair - diamondaviators.net

Diamond Aviators Net. On and about Diamond Aircraft.

www.diamondaviators.net

After the stop-drill, I covered the entire crack with aluminum tape on both sides, then a layer of white Gorilla duct tape on the outside for the ferry flight. Worked for me, but as always your mileage may vary.