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Pitts S2 pilot describes the departure of his bubble canopy during the takeoff roll and the rejected takeoff that follows.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 1052570 |
| Time | |
| Date | 201211 |
| Local Time Of Day | 1201-1800 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | ZZZ.Airport |
| State Reference | US |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | VMC |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Make Model Name | Pitts S-2 All Series |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 91 |
| Flight Phase | Takeoff |
| Route In Use | None |
| Flight Plan | None |
| Component | |
| Aircraft Component | Cockpit Canopy Window |
| Person 1 | |
| Function | Pilot Flying |
| Qualification | Flight Crew Flight Instructor Flight Crew Commercial Flight Crew Instrument Flight Crew Multiengine |
| Experience | Flight Crew Last 90 Days 15 Flight Crew Total 3300 Flight Crew Type 350 |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical Ground Event / Encounter Other / Unknown |
Narrative:
The 2 place canopy left the aircraft approximately 2-3 seconds into the takeoff roll. Given the OAT; the aircraft would have become airborne in 5-6 seconds (OAT was 35 degrees fahrenheit). The canopy 'lock/unlock' lever was found to be in the 'lock' position. We have been unable to determine why the canopy departed. What was done right: 1) the engine control was pulled to idle immediately. The takeoff was done from the 3 point position and it was within a couple of seconds of being airborne with an enormous amount of noise and wind. 2) pulling the power on a pitts when it's about to take off; places it in a position where lateral control is difficult. I estimate that the aircraft remained with a foot of the centerline. What I would change: I always fly with sunglasses. With a high overcast I didn't need them. Having them on would have diminished the effect of the wind and protected my eyes from any foreign material. From now on; when flying any airplane with a bubble canopy; I will always wear sunglasses or clear glasses.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: Pitts S2 pilot describes the departure of his bubble canopy during the takeoff roll and the rejected takeoff that follows.
Narrative: The 2 place canopy left the aircraft approximately 2-3 seconds into the takeoff roll. Given the OAT; the aircraft would have become airborne in 5-6 seconds (OAT was 35 degrees Fahrenheit). The canopy 'lock/unlock' lever was found to be in the 'lock' position. We have been unable to determine why the canopy departed. What was done right: 1) the engine control was pulled to idle immediately. The takeoff was done from the 3 point position and it was within a couple of seconds of being airborne with an enormous amount of noise and wind. 2) Pulling the power on a Pitts when it's about to take off; places it in a position where lateral control is difficult. I estimate that the aircraft remained with a foot of the centerline. What I would change: I always fly with sunglasses. With a high overcast I didn't need them. Having them on would have diminished the effect of the wind and protected my eyes from any foreign material. From now on; when flying any airplane with a bubble canopy; I will always wear sunglasses or clear glasses.
Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2013 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.