# NTSB CEN12LA071: Juve Richard G Zodiac CH601 HDS, N274, Clinton, AR, November 17, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: November 17, 2011, 16:45 local (22:45 UTC) - Place: Clinton, AR - Coordinates: 35.594722, -92.445274 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.5947&lon=-92.4453&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Cabin safety event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/110) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 2 serious - Status: Completed, report March 28, 2012 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 82333 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN12LA071 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/82333/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=82333 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12LA071 ## Probable cause The inadvertent opening of the canopy during takeoff due to the improperly repaired forward canopy latch mechanism, which did not fully secure the canopy. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Doors: passenger/crew doors](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035210): Aircraft › Aircraft structures · Incorrect service/maintenance (probable cause); cases with it: [Juve Richard G ZODIAC CH601 HDS, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035210/cases.md?model=05604XK), [All aircraft, 86 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035210/cases.md) - [Doors](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035200): Aircraft › Aircraft structures · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Juve Richard G ZODIAC CH601 HDS, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035200/cases.md?model=05604XK), [All aircraft, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035200/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Prior to flight: Aircraft maintenance event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/040); cases with it: [Juve Richard G ZODIAC CH601 HDS, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/040/sequence.md?model=05604XK), [All aircraft, 484 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/040/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Cabin safety event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/110) (defining event); cases with it: [Juve Richard G ZODIAC CH601 HDS, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/110/sequence.md?model=05604XK), [All aircraft, 151 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/110/sequence.md) - [Maneuvering: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240); cases with it: [Juve Richard G ZODIAC CH601 HDS, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=05604XK), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Maneuvering: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241); cases with it: [Juve Richard G ZODIAC CH601 HDS, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md?model=05604XK), [All aircraft, 1,529 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md) - [Uncontrolled descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Juve Richard G ZODIAC CH601 HDS, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=05604XK), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to the pilot, prior to departure, the airplane's canopy was secured in the normal manner. He said that the takeoff was uneventful, but, about 300 feet above ground level, the airplane's canopy began to vibrate. The front right corner of the canopy rose up about 4 inches before the entire canopy lifted in the front and then shattered. The pilot attempted to return to the runway, but the airplane stalled and impacted terrain. A postaccident examination of the wreckage found scratches on the forward canopy latch's engagement point consistent with a misalignment of the canopy latch. The examination also revealed that the canopy latches had previously been improperly repaired. As a result, the latch could not fully secure the forward portion of the canopy. ## Factual narrative On November 17, 2011, approximately 1645 central standard time, a kit-built Zodiac CH601 HDS airplane, N274, impacted terrain near Clinton, Arkansas. The pilot and passenger were seriously injured. The airplane was substantially damaged. The airplane was registered to and operated by a private individual under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight. The flight was originating at the time of the accident. According to a statement provided by the pilot, the airplane's canopy was secured in the normal manner and the canopy locks were both engaged and visually inspected prior to takeoff. The airplane's takeoff was uneventful until approximately 300 feet above ground level when the airplane's canopy began to vibrate. The pilot added, that the front right corner of the canopy rose about four inches. The entire canopy lifted in front and then the canopy shattered. The pilot, who lost his glasses when the canopy broke, attempted to return to the runway; however, the airplane stalled and impacted terrain. A witness reported that the airplane had just departed when they heard a loud pop. The witness added that the airplane turned left, descended, and disappeared from view. An inspection of the airframe by an inspector from the Federal Aviation Administration revealed substantial damage to both wings, the fuselage, the empennage, the vertical fin, and rudder. An examination of the airplane’s interior found that both canopy latches appeared to have been repaired at an unknown time prior to the accident, evident by a different quality weld. The repaired forward latch’s curvature did not fully match the latch’s engagement point. In addition, scratches on structure surrounding the forward canopy latch's engagement point were consistent with a misalignment of the canopy latch. As a result, the latch could not fully secure the forward portion of the canopy. The aft latch, which lacked misalignment marks, possessed a more curve-like appearance and matched the aft latch's engagement point. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N274](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N274-2014-11-12), registration cancelled 2014-11-12, S/N 63324, built 2001 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: JUVE RICHARD G ZODIAC CH601 HDS - Registry model: [Juve Richard G ZODIAC CH601 HDS](https://openairdocs.org/model/juve-richard-g-zodiac-ch601-hds) (registry code 05604XK) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Bombardier ROTAX (ALL)](https://openairdocs.org/engine/bombardier-rotax-all) (registry code 09050, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 63324 - Airframe hours: 362 - Engines: Rotax 912 UL 80 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, November 1, 2011, 2 hours before - Departed: CCA, Clinton, AR - Destination: CCA, Clinton, AR - Airport: CCA, Clinton Municipal, runway 13, 4,012 × 60 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 64; injuries: serious; commercial, sport pilot; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: sport pilot; last flight review April 21, 2010; seat: left; flight hours: 2,251 total, 76 in this make and model, 1,940 as pilot in command, 2 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 52 °F, dew point 10 °F - Altimeter: 30.34 inHg - Observed at: CCA ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20111117026269A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20111117026269A), Nov 17, 2011: Juve Richard G ZODIAC CH601 HDS, Clinton, AR, Destroyed. On November 17, 2011, at approximately 1645 CDT, N274, a experimental amateur built zodiac ch 601 hds aircraft, operated by a commercial pilot near Clinton,… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 2, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=82333. 861 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 572 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40360753&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Photo: Foward canopy latch engagement point (provided by FAA) (item 2, .PDF, 55 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40360756&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%3A%20Foward%20canopy%20latch%20engagement%20point%20(provided%20by%20FAA)-Redacted.PDF - Photo: Photo of canopy latches (provided by FAA) (item 3, .PDF, 148 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40360757&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%3A%20Photo%20of%20canopy%20latches%20(provided%20by%20FAA)-Redacted.PDF - Miscellaneous: KCCA Weather (item 4, .PDF, 33 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40360874&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Miscellaneous%3A%20KCCA%20Weather-Master.PDF - Witness Statement: Record of Conversation Johnson (item 5, .PDF, 52 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40361317&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%20Statement%3A%20Record%20of%20Conversation%20Johnson-Master.PDF From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.