Evektor-Aerotechnik As SPORTSTAR N811EV

Summary

On 10 March 2013 at about 19:30 local time, a Evektor-Aerotechnik As SPORTSTAR registered N811EV was involved in an accident near San Jose, California, United States. One person was on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

10 March 2013 at 19:30

Classification

Accident

Location

San Jose, California, United States

Nearest airport

Reid-Hillview Airport of Santa (KRHV)

Coordinates

37.3328, -121.8031

Aircraft

Evektor-Aerotechnik As SPORTSTAR

Registration

N811EV

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

San Jose → San Jose

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR13CA142

1 person had minor injuries.

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s failure to adequately latch the canopy before takeoff.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that, as the airplane was about 10 feet above the runway during takeoff, the cockpit canopy began to open and rotate forward. The pilot reached up with his right hand to grab the canopy and hold it down. He decided to abort the takeoff and pointed the airplane back toward the runway. He could not manipulate the throttle with one hand on the stick and the other on the canopy, and the airplane landed at a groundspeed of about 55 knots. During the landing roll, the airplane departed the runway, substantially damaging the left wing root and buckling the fuselage behind the firewall. Postaccident examination of the canopy locking mechanism revealed that the canopy latch and handle were functioning properly.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.