What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
Shortly after takeoff, approximatly 10 ' AGL, the aircraft's canopy became unlatched. This startled the pilot and caused him to lose control of the aircraft and strike the nose wheel on the runway.
The aircraft porpoised twice and the nosewheel broke off, after which, the pilot regained control and flew 20 miles to his home airport and landed without a nose gear.
The propeller and nose wheel strut were damaged. The pilot was the only person onboard and was not injured.
Reviewed by dws 11/04/2015
As the FAA filed it
SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF, APPROXIMATLY 10 ' AGL, THE AIRCRAFT'S CANOPY BECAME UNLATCHED. THIS STARTLED THE PILOT AND CAUSED HIM TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT AND STRIKE THE NOSE WHEEL ON THE RUNWAY.
THE AIRCRAFT PORPOISED TWICE AND THE NOSEWHEEL BROKE OFF, AFTER WHICH, THE PILOT REGAINED CONTROL AND FLEW 20 MILES TO HIS HOME AIRPORT AND LANDED WITHOUT A NOSE GEAR.
THE PROPELLER AND NOSE WHEEL STRUT WERE DAMAGED. THE PILOT WAS THE ONLY PERSON ONBOARD AND WAS NOT INJURED.
REVIEWED BY DWS 11/04/2015