N274

On November 17, 2011, approximately 1645 central standard time, a kit-built Zodiac CH601 HDS airplane, N274, impacted terrain near Clinton, Arkansas. The pilot and passenger were seriously injured. The airplane was substantially damaged. The airplane was registered to and operated by a private individual under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight. The flight was originating at the time of the accident.

According to a statement provided by the pilot, the airplane's canopy was secured in the normal manner and the canopy locks were both engaged and visually inspected prior to takeoff. The airplane's takeoff was uneventful until approximately 300 feet above ground level when the airplane's canopy began to vibrate. The pilot added, that the front right corner of the canopy rose about four inches. The entire canopy lifted in front and then the canopy shattered. The pilot, who lost his glasses when the canopy broke, attempted to return to the runway; however, the airplane stalled and impacted terrain.

A witness reported that the airplane had just departed when they heard a loud pop. The witness added that the airplane turned left, descended, and disappeared from view.

An inspection of the airframe by an inspector from the Federal Aviation Administration revealed substantial damage to both wings, the fuselage, the empennage, the vertical fin, and rudder. An examination of the airplane’s interior found that both canopy latches appeared to have been repaired at an unknown time prior to the accident, evident by a different quality weld. The repaired forward latch’s curvature did not fully match the latch’s engagement point. In addition, scratches on structure surrounding the forward canopy latch's engagement point were consistent with a misalignment of the canopy latch. As a result, the latch could not fully secure the forward portion of the canopy. The aft latch, which lacked misalignment marks, possessed a more curve-like appearance and matched the aft latch's engagement point.