Juve Richard G ZODIAC CH601 HDS N274

Summary

On 17 November 2011 at about 22:45 local time, a Juve Richard G ZODIAC CH601 HDS registered N274 was involved in an accident near Clinton, Arkansas, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 were seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

17 November 2011 at 22:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Clinton, Arkansas, United States

Nearest airport

Clinton Municipal (CCA)

Coordinates

35.5947, -92.4453

Aircraft

Juve Richard G ZODIAC CH601 HDS

Registration

N274

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Clinton → Clinton

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN12LA071

2 people were seriously injured.

The inadvertent opening of the canopy during takeoff due to the improperly repaired forward canopy latch mechanism, which did not fully secure the canopy.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

According to the pilot, prior to departure, the airplane's canopy was secured in the normal manner. He said that the takeoff was uneventful, but, about 300 feet above ground level, the airplane's canopy began to vibrate. The front right corner of the canopy rose up about 4 inches before the entire canopy lifted in the front and then shattered. The pilot attempted to return to the runway, but the airplane stalled and impacted terrain. A postaccident examination of the wreckage found scratches on the forward canopy latch's engagement point consistent with a misalignment of the canopy latch. The examination also revealed that the canopy latches had previously been improperly repaired. As a result, the latch could not fully secure the forward portion of the canopy.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.