Rominger EYAS N8012U

Summary

On 30 June 1996 at about 18:00 local time, a Rominger EYAS registered N8012U was involved in an accident near Santa Rosa, California, 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

30 June 1996 at 18:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Santa Rosa, California, United States

Nearest airport

Sonoma County (STS)

Coordinates

38.4993, -122.7593

Aircraft

Rominger EYAS

Registration

N8012U

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Unknown

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX96LA261

Nobody was injured.

an inadequate design change by the pilot/builder of the airplane's canopy; a malfunction of the canopy, which resulted in its separation; and failure of the pilot to flare the airplane during an emergency landing after takeoff, due to the wind blast that impaired his vision.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

During takeoff, the airplane's canopy came open about 20 feet above the ground and separated. The pilot's vision was impaired by air blasting in his face. He then 'closed' the throttle, and the airplane descended to a hard landing on the runway and was damaged. Investigation revealed that FAA personnel inspected the airplane before the accident in conjunction with an application for an experimental airworthiness certificate; the pilot/builder was denied an airworthiness certificate. After addressing some of the discrepancies and making some changes, the pilot/builder submitted an application for an experimental airworthiness certificate to an FAA designated airworthiness representative (DAR). The FAA DAR issued the certificate. After the accident, FAA airworthiness inspectors, who were familiar with the airplane, examined it. They noted the airplane had been modified in a manner defined as major changes in design. One of the modifications concerned the airplane's canopy. After the postaccident examination, the FAA determined 'the aircraft was not in a safe condition for operation at the time of the accident.'

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.