# NTSB CEN13LA308: Evektor-Aerotechnik Sportstar Plus, N319SV, Elyria, OH, May 30, 2013 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 29, 2013, 20:00 local (May 30, 2013, 01:00 UTC) - Place: Elyria, OH - Coordinates: 41.344165, -82.17778 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.3442&lon=-82.1778&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Part(s) separation from AC](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/338) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 11, 2013 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration, AB Flight, LLC - NTSB case key (mKey): 87037 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN13LA308 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/87037/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=87037 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13LA308 ## Probable cause The failure of the canopy latch spring, which caused the canopy to open during initial climb. Contributing to the accident was the installation of an improper part in the canopy latch assembly, which led to the failure of the canopy latch spring. ## 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 · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Evektor - Aerotechnik A S SPORTSTAR MAX, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035210/cases.md?model=060006Z), [All aircraft, 86 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035210/cases.md) - [Doors: passenger/crew doors](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035210): Aircraft › Aircraft structures · Incorrect service/maintenance (probable cause); cases with it: [Evektor - Aerotechnik A S SPORTSTAR MAX, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035210/cases.md?model=060006Z), [All aircraft, 86 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035210/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Initial climb: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900); cases with it: [Evektor - Aerotechnik A S SPORTSTAR MAX, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md?model=060006Z), [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md) - [Initial climb: Part(s) separation from AC](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/338) (defining event); cases with it: [Evektor - Aerotechnik A S SPORTSTAR MAX, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/338/sequence.md?model=060006Z), [All aircraft, 563 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/338/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Evektor - Aerotechnik A S SPORTSTAR MAX, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=060006Z), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) ## Analysis During initial takeoff climb after performing a touch-and-go landing, the airplane's canopy opened to the forward position. The pilot landed the aircraft on the remaining runway; however, the airplane departed the end of the runway, struck a landing threshold light, and came to rest upright. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the canopy latch spring had failed. In addition, the spring mounting plate used to hold the spring in position did not have a relief area machined into the plate that was required for the correct operation of the spring. The spring and assembly had been installed approximately 32 hours prior to the accident. ## Factual narrative On May 29, 2013, about 2000 eastern standard time, an Evektor-Aerotechnik AS Sportstar Plus light-sport airplane, N319SV, sustained substantial damage during an aborted takeoff at the Lorain County Regional Airport (KLPR), Lorain, Ohio. The sport pilot was not injured. 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, which operated without a flight plan. The local area flight originated approximately 1900.According to the pilot, during initial takeoff climb after performing a touch-and-go landing on runway 25, the airplane's canopy opened to the forward position. The pilot landed the aircraft on the remaining runway; however, the airplane departed the end of the runway, struck a landing threshold light, and came to rest upright. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the forward fuselage, engine firewall and left wing spar. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the canopy latch spring (part number E1 93-06 21) had failed. In addition, the spring mounting plate used to hold the spring in position did not have a relief area machined into the plate that was required for the correct operation of the spring. A review of the maintenance records showed that on October 11, 2011, at a total airframe time of 1,352.6 hours, a new canopy latch spring, canopy lock assembly, lock handle, and ring were installed. The most recent condition inspection was completed on February 15, 2013, at a total airframe time of 1,363.5 hours. At the time of the accident, the airframe had accumulated 1,384 total hours. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N319SV](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N319SV), registered now, S/N 20070916, built 2007 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: EVEKTOR-AEROTECHNIK AS SPORTSTAR PLUS - Registry model: [Evektor - Aerotechnik A S SPORTSTAR MAX](https://openairdocs.org/model/evektor-aerotechnik-a-s-sportstar-max) (registry code 060006Z) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rotax 912ULS series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-912uls-series) (registry code 55572, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 20070916 - Airframe hours: 1363.5 - Engines: ROTAX 912ULS 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: On File - Registered owner: On File - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Condition, February 15, 2013 - Departed: KLPR, Elyria, OH - Destination: KLPR, Elyria, OH - Airport: KLPR, Lorain County Regional Airport, runway 25, 5,002 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 61; injuries: none; sport pilot; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: sport pilot, with waivers/limitations; last flight review August 19, 2011; seat: left; flight hours: 541 total, 29 in this make and model, 431 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 170° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 6,500 ft overcast - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 66 °F - Altimeter: 30.02 inHg - Observed at: LPR ## 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 20130530008199A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130530008199A), May 30, 2013: Evektor-Aerotechnik As SPORTSTAR PLUS, Elyria, OH, Substantial damage. On touch n go takeoff at 50-60 ft. altitude, the canopy latch became unlatched allowing the canopy to spring open. Pilot elected to land on remaining runway… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 26, 2013, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=87037. 1.3 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 898 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40400736&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Airframe Manufacturer Report (item 2, .PDF, 80 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40400737&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Airframe%20Manufacturer%20Report-Master.PDF - Excerpts of Maintenance Records (item 3, .PDF, 103 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40400738&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Excerpts%20of%20Maintenance%20Records-Redacted.PDF - IPC Canopy Lock (item 4, .PDF, 111 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40400739&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=IPC%20Canopy%20Lock-Master.PDF - Statement of Party Representatives to NTSB Investigation (item 5, .PDF, 85 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40400740&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Statement%20of%20Party%20Representatives%20to%20NTSB%20Investigation-Redacted.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.