What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
Following takeoff, pilot proceeded on runway heading until approximately 1 mile south of the runway when the tower cleared the pilot to turn left. As the pilot turned left, he increased his climb speed to approximately 150 mph. During the climb at approximately 2800 MSL, the pilot noted both dynon D100 and D180 screens illuminate with a ?caution canopy unlocked? Warning. Pilot then reached for the canopy lever but failed to reach it before the canopy tore off the aircraft.
Pilot lost his headset and eyeglasses due to the wind. Pilot also experienced a cut on his ear, a knot on the side of his head and felt ?dazed?. Pilot proceeded to verify the aircraft flight controls were ok but noted he had no communications due to the loss of his headset. In addition, the pilot could not see the instruments and was having vision problems due to his glasses being blown off.
Pilot then proceeded to land back at chd with no further events taking place.
Inspectors from the scottsdale FSDO reviewed the aircraft records, pilots written statement, inspected the aircraft and the detached canopy. The inspection included operationally checking the canopy locked/unlocked indicating system which appeared to functioning correctly. It was noted that several of the jam nuts on the canopy lock pins were loose. Pilot stated that these were tight before the flight. No damage on the airframe side of the canopy locking systems was noted (signs of lock pins tearing through or gouging, etc). No further discrepancies were noted with the canopy locking system.
As the FAA filed it
FOLLOWING TAKEOFF, PILOT PROCEEDED ON RUNWAY HEADING UNTIL APPROXIMATELY 1 MILE SOUTH OF THE RUNWAY WHEN THE TOWER CLEARED THE PILOT TO TURN LEFT. AS THE PILOT TURNED LEFT, HE INCREASED HIS CLIMB SPEED TO APPROXIMATELY 150 MPH. DURING THE CLIMB AT APPROXIMATELY 2800 MSL, THE PILOT NOTED BOTH DYNON D100 AND D180 SCREENS ILLUMINATE WITH A ?CAUTION CANOPY UNLOCKED? WARNING. PILOT THEN REACHED FOR THE CANOPY LEVER BUT FAILED TO REACH IT BEFORE THE CANOPY TORE OFF THE AIRCRAFT.
PILOT LOST HIS HEADSET AND EYEGLASSES DUE TO THE WIND. PILOT ALSO EXPERIENCED A CUT ON HIS EAR, A KNOT ON THE SIDE OF HIS HEAD AND FELT ?DAZED?. PILOT PROCEEDED TO VERIFY THE AIRCRAFT FLIGHT CONTROLS WERE OK BUT NOTED HE HAD NO COMMUNICATIONS DUE TO THE LOSS OF HIS HEADSET. IN ADDITION, THE PILOT COULD NOT SEE THE INSTRUMENTS AND WAS HAVING VISION PROBLEMS DUE TO HIS GLASSES BEING BLOWN OFF.
PILOT THEN PROCEEDED TO LAND BACK AT CHD WITH NO FURTHER EVENTS TAKING PLACE.
INSPECTORS FROM THE SCOTTSDALE FSDO REVIEWED THE AIRCRAFT RECORDS, PILOTS WRITTEN STATEMENT, INSPECTED THE AIRCRAFT AND THE DETACHED CANOPY. THE INSPECTION INCLUDED OPERATIONALLY CHECKING THE CANOPY LOCKED/UNLOCKED INDICATING SYSTEM WHICH APPEARED TO FUNCTIONING CORRECTLY. IT WAS NOTED THAT SEVERAL OF THE JAM NUTS ON THE CANOPY LOCK PINS WERE LOOSE. PILOT STATED THAT THESE WERE TIGHT BEFORE THE FLIGHT. NO DAMAGE ON THE AIRFRAME SIDE OF THE CANOPY LOCKING SYSTEMS WAS NOTED (SIGNS OF LOCK PINS TEARING THROUGH OR GOUGING, ETC). NO FURTHER DISCREPANCIES WERE NOTED WITH THE CANOPY LOCKING SYSTEM.