ERA14LA422

The pilot was returning the airplane to his home base following an avionics installation. During the takeoff roll, about 80 knots, the canopy handle vibrated to the open position, and the canopy opened. As the pilot was rejecting the takeoff, the landing gear retracted. The pilot was unable to maintain directional control, and the airplane departed the runway; the left wing struck a taxiway sign, resulting in structural damage. Examination of the aircraft after the accident revealed that the landing gear extend/retract switch was installed upside-down in the newly-replaced instrument panel. The switch was in the "retract" position during preflight and takeoff; however, the safety squat switch on the landing gear prevented gear retraction while on the ground. Once weight was removed from the landing gear during the takeoff sequence, the switch commanded the landing gear to retract. The mechanic who installed the instrument panel did not perform a functional gear check (gear swing) prior to releasing the airplane to the owner.

On September 3, 2014, about 1201 eastern daylight time, an Ackland SH-3R (Glasair III), N333AW, collided with a taxiway sign following a rejected takeoff and landing gear retraction at Columbus, Georgia (CSG). The commercial pilot and one passenger were not injured, and the airplane was substantially damaged. The experimental, amateur-built airplane was operated under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91 by the pilot. Day, visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flight, and no flight plan was filed. The flight was destined for Crestview, Florida (CEW). The pilot reported the airplane had been at CSG undergoing avionics installations for several weeks and he was returning it to his home base. During the takeoff roll on runway 24, while passing 80 knots, the pilot's canopy began to open. He would later report that the canopy handle became unsecured due to aircraft vibration, which had happened previously. The left wing came up and the pilot rejected the takeoff. The airplane began to settle as the landing gear collapsed. The airplane departed the right side of the runway and struck a taxiway sign. The airplane came to rest in the grass, adjacent to the runway. An inspector with the Federal Aviation Administration responded to the accident site and examined the wreckage. The inspector confirmed structural damage to the left wing. The aircraft was then moved to a hangar for inspection of the landing gear system. The inspection revealed that the landing gear extend/retract switch was installed upside-down in the newly-replaced instrument panel. Troubleshooting revealed that the switch was in the "retract" position during preflight and takeoff; however, the safety squat switch on the landing gear prevented gear retraction on the ground. Once weight was removed from the landing gear during the takeoff sequence, the gear retracted. The inspector also reported that the mechanic for the avionics company did not perform a functional check (gear swing) on N333AW after the avionics installation. They did not possess a set of aircraft jacks to accomplish this and did not try to procure a set.