What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
Phone interview with pilot: on 8-7-12 after take off from Wheeling, WV during ascent between 10 – 11 thousand feet, the cabin altitude warning activated. The pilot cycled the cabin pressurization and ecs handle. The canopy then came open about 4 inches on the left side. The pilot pulled the canopy down to about 2 inches at which time the canopy departed the aircraft. The pilot reported the incident to ATC who recorded the location as n 4020.51 w 8116.44 (near Piedmont, OH). The aircraft returned to Wheeling, WV and landed without further incident. On 8-8-2012, this inspector placed a phone call to the cleveland FSDO leaving a message informing the a/w flm of the incident and possible canopy location. This inspector also contacted the richmond FSDO and inquired about the owner/operator's operation, airborne tactical advantage co. LLC (atac). Atac is a DOD contractor that does training with the navy. The safety officer will inspect aircraft and advise this office of their findings. Phone interview with atac safety officer on 8-15-2012: atac safety officer stated their investigation was concluded. The canopy was not fully latched. The system in the aircraft that tells the pilot the canopy is closed does not include the canopy lock system. Atac has requested engineering guidance on a modification to the locking mechanism which would include an indicator for the canopy locking system. In the meantime, atac has issued new procedures that the ground crew will verify the canopy is locked prior to flight.
As the FAA filed it
PHONE INTERVIEW WITH PILOT: ON 8-7-12 AFTER TAKE OFF FROM WHEELING, WV DURING ASCENT BETWEEN 10 – 11 THOUSAND FEET, THE CABIN ALTITUDE WARNING ACTIVATED. THE PILOT CYCLED THE CABIN PRESSURIZATION AND ECS HANDLE. THE CANOPY THEN CAME OPEN ABOUT 4 INCHES ON THE LEFT SIDE. THE PILOT PULLED THE CANOPY DOWN TO ABOUT 2 INCHES AT WHICH TIME THE CANOPY DEPARTED THE AIRCRAFT. THE PILOT REPORTED THE INCIDENT TO ATC WHO RECORDED THE LOCATION AS N 4020.51 W 8116.44 (NEAR PIEDMONT, OH). THE AIRCRAFT RETURNED TO WHEELING, WV AND LANDED WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT. ON 8-8-2012, THIS INSPECTOR PLACED A PHONE CALL TO THE CLEVELAND FSDO LEAVING A MESSAGE INFORMING THE A/W FLM OF THE INCIDENT AND POSSIBLE CANOPY LOCATION. THIS INSPECTOR ALSO CONTACTED THE RICHMOND FSDO AND INQUIRED ABOUT THE OWNER/OPERATOR'S OPERATION, AIRBORNE TACTICAL ADVANTAGE CO. LLC (ATAC). ATAC IS A DOD CONTRACTOR THAT DOES TRAINING WITH THE NAVY. THE SAFETY OFFICER WILL INSPECT AIRCRAFT AND ADVISE THIS OFFICE OF THEIR FINDINGS. PHONE INTERVIEW WITH ATAC SAFETY OFFICER ON 8-15-2012: ATAC SAFETY OFFICER STATED THEIR INVESTIGATION WAS CONCLUDED. THE CANOPY WAS NOT FULLY LATCHED. THE SYSTEM IN THE AIRCRAFT THAT TELLS THE PILOT THE CANOPY IS CLOSED DOES NOT INCLUDE THE CANOPY LOCK SYSTEM. ATAC HAS REQUESTED ENGINEERING GUIDANCE ON A MODIFICATION TO THE LOCKING MECHANISM WHICH WOULD INCLUDE AN INDICATOR FOR THE CANOPY LOCKING SYSTEM. IN THE MEANTIME, ATAC HAS ISSUED NEW PROCEDURES THAT THE GROUND CREW WILL VERIFY THE CANOPY IS LOCKED PRIOR TO FLIGHT.