What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
On may 9, 2010, at approximately 1545 CDT, N144TJ, an experimental amateur built Cozy, was operating under FAR 91, near Pine Bluff, Arkansas. The private pilot reported the canopy latch system failed, followed by the failure of the canopy safety latch, which resulted in articles departing from the rear seat. An unknown article struck the propeller (pusher) and damaged it resulting in an engine failure. The pilot made the decision to make an off airport emergency landing. On scene investigation by the lit FSDO revealed a broken canopy safety latch. The aircraft received substantial damage and the pilot, sole occupant, was not injured. The flight was conducted in VMC conditions and a flight plan was not filed.
As the FAA filed it
ON MAY 9, 2010, AT APPROXIMATELY 1545 CDT, N144TJ, AN EXPERIMENTAL AMATEUR BUILT COZY, WAS OPERATING UNDER FAR 91, NEAR PINE BLUFF, ARKANSAS. THE PRIVATE PILOT REPORTED THE CANOPY LATCH SYSTEM FAILED, FOLLOWED BY THE FAILURE OF THE CANOPY SAFETY LATCH, WHICH RESULTED IN ARTICLES DEPARTING FROM THE REAR SEAT. AN UNKNOWN ARTICLE STRUCK THE PROPELLER (PUSHER) AND DAMAGED IT RESULTING IN AN ENGINE FAILURE. THE PILOT MADE THE DECISION TO MAKE AN OFF AIRPORT EMERGENCY LANDING. ON SCENE INVESTIGATION BY THE LIT FSDO REVEALED A BROKEN CANOPY SAFETY LATCH. THE AIRCRAFT RECEIVED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE AND THE PILOT, SOLE OCCUPANT, WAS NOT INJURED. THE FLIGHT WAS CONDUCTED IN VMC CONDITIONS AND A FLIGHT PLAN WAS NOT FILED.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.