What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
On 8/22/2017 at approximately 12:00 pm (PDT) aircraft N269KD an Extra EA-300/LC registered to unmanned systems inc. and operated by sky combat ace (14 CFR part 91 providing 14 CFR part 61 flight instruction) started departure roll at hnd on runway 35L. On departure roll at approximately thirty to fifty feet the aircraft canopy departed the aircraft. The pilot aborted takeoff and returned to sky combat ace hnd facility. Damage to the aircraft canopy and canopy mount was noted. No injuries to either the two occupants.
Post incident the pilot was interviewed and stated that he unlatched/opened the aircraft canopy slightly while taxiing to the departure runway as the aircraft cockpit was getting hot. He went on to state that he was sure that he secured the canopy prior to departure. Additionally he stated that sometimes while closing/latching the canopy of these aircraft that they are sometimes stiff and require additional or Extra aft motion to ensure they are latched closed. I asked him if he had made an entry in the aircraft log regarding the resistant latch and then have maintenance personnel evaluate the canopy latching mechanism. He stated that he had not entered this in the aircraft logbook. Lastly he stated that this was the second time that this has happened to him and that the first time he failed to securely latch the canopy. This aircraft was equipped with an aft facing camera mounted in the cockpit. A review of the cameras footage determined the aircraft canopy was not securely fastened closed prior to aircraft departure roll. This incident was a result of the pilot failing to secure the aircraft canopy.
As the FAA filed it
ON 8/22/2017 AT APPROXIMATELY 12:00 PM (PDT) AIRCRAFT N269KD AN EXTRA EA-300/LC REGISTERED TO UNMANNED SYSTEMS INC. AND OPERATED BY SKY COMBAT ACE (14 CFR PART 91 PROVIDING 14 CFR PART 61 FLIGHT INSTRUCTION) STARTED DEPARTURE ROLL AT HND ON RUNWAY 35L. ON DEPARTURE ROLL AT APPROXIMATELY THIRTY TO FIFTY FEET THE AIRCRAFT CANOPY DEPARTED THE AIRCRAFT. THE PILOT ABORTED TAKEOFF AND RETURNED TO SKY COMBAT ACE HND FACILITY. DAMAGE TO THE AIRCRAFT CANOPY AND CANOPY MOUNT WAS NOTED. NO INJURIES TO EITHER THE TWO OCCUPANTS.
POST INCIDENT THE PILOT WAS INTERVIEWED AND STATED THAT HE UNLATCHED/OPENED THE AIRCRAFT CANOPY SLIGHTLY WHILE TAXIING TO THE DEPARTURE RUNWAY AS THE AIRCRAFT COCKPIT WAS GETTING HOT. HE WENT ON TO STATE THAT HE WAS SURE THAT HE SECURED THE CANOPY PRIOR TO DEPARTURE. ADDITIONALLY HE STATED THAT SOMETIMES WHILE CLOSING/LATCHING THE CANOPY OF THESE AIRCRAFT THAT THEY ARE SOMETIMES STIFF AND REQUIRE ADDITIONAL OR EXTRA AFT MOTION TO ENSURE THEY ARE LATCHED CLOSED. I ASKED HIM IF HE HAD MADE AN ENTRY IN THE AIRCRAFT LOG REGARDING THE RESISTANT LATCH AND THEN HAVE MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL EVALUATE THE CANOPY LATCHING MECHANISM. HE STATED THAT HE HAD NOT ENTERED THIS IN THE AIRCRAFT LOGBOOK. LASTLY HE STATED THAT THIS WAS THE SECOND TIME THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED TO HIM AND THAT THE FIRST TIME HE FAILED TO SECURELY LATCH THE CANOPY. THIS AIRCRAFT WAS EQUIPPED WITH AN AFT FACING CAMERA MOUNTED IN THE COCKPIT. A REVIEW OF THE CAMERAS FOOTAGE DETERMINED THE AIRCRAFT CANOPY WAS NOT SECURELY FASTENED CLOSED PRIOR TO AIRCRAFT DEPARTURE ROLL. THIS INCIDENT WAS A RESULT OF THE PILOT FAILING TO SECURE THE AIRCRAFT CANOPY.