# NTSB ERA10LA221: Czech Aircraft Works Spol Sro Sportcruiser, N417VR, Millbrook, NY, April 11, 2010

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: April 11, 2010, 15:00 local (19:00 UTC)
- Place: Millbrook, NY
- Coordinates: 41.707221, -73.737777 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.7072&lon=-73.7378&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Takeoff: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report June 20, 2011
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: FAA/FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 75712
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA10LA221
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/75712/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=75712
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA10LA221

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control after takeoff while he was distracted by trying to hold shut the unlocked cockpit canopy. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's failure to lock the canopy prior to takeoff, and the inadequate guidance in the Pilot Operating Handbook regarding canopy locking procedures.

## 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 use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Czech Aircraft Works Spol Sro SPORTCRUISER, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035210/cases.md?model=060002O), [All aircraft, 86 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035210/cases.md)
- [Policy/procedure: availability of policy/proc](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/04021010): Organizational issues › Management · Manufacturer (probable cause); cases with it: [Czech Aircraft Works Spol Sro SPORTCRUISER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/04021010/cases.md?model=060002O), [All aircraft, 28 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/04021010/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: lateral/bank control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062023): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Czech Aircraft Works Spol Sro SPORTCRUISER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062023/cases.md?model=060002O), [All aircraft, 390 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062023/cases.md)
- [Action: lack of action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Czech Aircraft Works Spol Sro SPORTCRUISER, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md?model=060002O), [All aircraft, 792 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Takeoff: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Czech Aircraft Works Spol Sro SPORTCRUISER, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=060002O), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md)
- [Uncontrolled descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Czech Aircraft Works Spol Sro SPORTCRUISER, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=060002O), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)

## Analysis

According to several witnesses, the airplane's engine sounded good during the takeoff roll, but at liftoff the wings were rocking and the airplane was not gaining altitude. They said that almost immediately, the airplane banked hard left back toward the airport, and disappeared from view. The sounds of impact were heard, and a fire ensued at ground contact that completely consumed the airplane. Some of the witnesses stated that they saw something fall off of or from the airplane during the turn. A firefighter who responded immediately to the scene said the pilot told him that he tried to hold the canopy shut and fly the airplane at the same time and did not lock the canopy. Postaccident flight testing and information gathered from previous investigations (WPR09LA075 and WPR10LA276) revealed that an unlocked canopy remained slightly ajar in flight. Without being latched, the hinged canopy would rest in the fully closed position. After takeoff, the unlatched canopy lifted from the frame rail. Flight testing revealed that the relative airflow held the canopy in a lowered, slightly-open position, and that the airplane remained fully controllable. Following these three investigations, the manufacturer added a pre-takeoff canopy closed-and-locked check to the checklist, and a canopy unlocked in-flight procedure to the Pilot Operating Handbook.

## Factual narrative

On April 11, 2010, about 1500 eastern daylight time, a special light sport Czech Air Works Sportcruiser, N417VR, was destroyed following an uncontrolled descent and collision with terrain after takeoff from Sky Acres Airport (44N), Millbrook, New York. The certificated sport pilot/owner was seriously injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight, which was conducted under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. According to several witnesses, the airplane's engine sounded good during the takeoff roll and throughout the flight, but at liftoff, the wings were rocking and the airplane was not gaining altitude. They said that almost immediately, the airplane banked really hard left back toward the airport, and disappeared from view. The sounds of impact were heard, and a fire ensued at ground contact. Some of the witnesses stated that they saw something fall off of, or from the airplane during the turn. One of the witnesses was an off-duty firefighter who responded to the scene immediately on foot. He said the airplane was on fire, but the pilot was some distance from the airplane. As the firefighter got to the scene, the pilot told him that he crawled out. The pilot also told him that he tried to hold the canopy shut and fly the plane at the same time and did not lock the canopy. Examination of the airplane by Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) aviation safety inspectors revealed that the airplane was completely consumed by fire. Only a small portion of the tail section, and a melted engine block were identified. According to FAA records, the airplane was manufactured and registered in 2009. The maintenance records were not recovered. Therefore, the airplane's total time and maintenance history could not be determined. The pilot held a private pilot certificate with ratings for airplane single-engine land, single-engine sea, and instrument airplane. The pilot's most recent FAA third class medical certificate was issued November 3, 2002. He reported 1,076 total hours of flight experience on that date. The pilot's logbook was not recovered, and his total flight experience could not be determined. As a result of previous Safety Board investigations (WPR09LA075 and WPR10LA276) it was learned that without being latched, the hinged canopy would rest in the fully closed position. After takeoff, the unlatched canopy lifted from the frame rail. Flight testing revealed that the relative airflow held the canopy in a lowered, slightly-open position, and that the airplane remained fully controllable. These accidents demonstrated that, without guidance from the manufacturer, the pilots attempted to hold the canopy closed and fly the airplane simultaneously, which resulted in distractions while trying to control the airplane. As a result of these investigations, the manufacturer added a pre-takeoff canopy closed-and-locked check to the checklist, and a canopy unlocked in-flightprocedure to the Pilot Operating Handbook.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N417VR](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N417VR-2011-02-25), registration cancelled 2011-02-25, S/N 08SC232, built 2008 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CZECH AIRCRAFT WORKS SPOL SRO SPORTCRUISER
- Registry model: [Czech Aircraft Works Spol Sro SPORTCRUISER](https://openairdocs.org/model/czech-aircraft-works-spol-sro-sportcruiser) (registry code 060002O) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Rotax 912ULS series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-912uls-series) (registry code 55572, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 08SC232
- Engines: ROTAX 912ULS 100 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Lsa LLC
- Registered owner: Lsa LLC
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Special light-sport (Special)
- Departed: 44N, Millbrook, NJ
- Destination: 44N, Millbrook, NJ
- Airport: 44N, Sky Acres, runway 35, 3,830 × 60 ft

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 70; injuries: serious; private, sport pilot; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 1,076 total

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 260° at 11 knots, gusting 16
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 30 °F
- Altimeter: 30.11 inHg
- Observed at: POU, 8 nm away

## 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 20100411031459A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100411031459A), Apr 11, 2010: Czech Aircr SPORTCRUISE, Lagrangeville, NY, Destroyed. On 4/11/2010 at 1450 local time N417VR impacted the ground soon after departing Sky Acres Airport (K44N). Witnesses reported the aircraft low over their homes…

## Docket (4 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 4, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=75712. 172 KB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report Memorandum (item 1, .PDF, 18 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40341294&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report%20Memorandum-Master.PDF
- Witness Interview Summaries (item 2, .PDF, 8 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40341323&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%20Interview%20Summaries-Master.PDF
- Witness Statements (item 3, .PDF, 137 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40341282&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%20Statements-Redacted.PDF
- FAA Inspector Interview Summary (item 4, .PDF, 8 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40341324&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%20Interview%20Summary-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.

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