What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
While performing a snap role to the left, aircraft canopy became unlocked and departed aircraft. Pilot recovered aircraft and returned to kffz and landed without further incident.
Aircraft canopy has two locking mechanism?s on left side of fuselage. Spring on primary lock was disconnected during investigation. Could not validate if this was installed during flight. Noted that design of lock was contoured in a way that without spring pressure, locking handle could migrate to unlocked position. Secondary locking feature does not appear to be strong enough to hold canopy during aerobatic maneuvers. Appears to be adequate for normal flight maneuvers.
As the FAA filed it
WHILE PERFORMING A SNAP ROLE TO THE LEFT, AIRCRAFT CANOPY BECAME UNLOCKED AND DEPARTED AIRCRAFT. PILOT RECOVERED AIRCRAFT AND RETURNED TO KFFZ AND LANDED WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT.
AIRCRAFT CANOPY HAS TWO LOCKING MECHANISM?S ON LEFT SIDE OF FUSELAGE. SPRING ON PRIMARY LOCK WAS DISCONNECTED DURING INVESTIGATION. COULD NOT VALIDATE IF THIS WAS INSTALLED DURING FLIGHT. NOTED THAT DESIGN OF LOCK WAS CONTOURED IN A WAY THAT WITHOUT SPRING PRESSURE, LOCKING HANDLE COULD MIGRATE TO UNLOCKED POSITION. SECONDARY LOCKING FEATURE DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE STRONG ENOUGH TO HOLD CANOPY DURING AEROBATIC MANEUVERS. APPEARS TO BE ADEQUATE FOR NORMAL FLIGHT MANEUVERS.