# NTSB ERA25LA102: Daniel A Robinson High 6 Berkut 540, N976DR, Orlando, FL, January 20, 2025

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: January 20, 2025, 08:30 local (13:30 UTC)
- Place: Orlando, FL · Door departed immediately after takeoff.
- Coordinates: 28.543194, -81.338028 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.5432&lon=-81.3380&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Takeoff: Part(s) separation from AC](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/338)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: FAA/FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 199590
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA25LA102
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/199590/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=199590
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA25LA102

## Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to verify the canopy latches were in the locked position prior to takeoff.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Action: forgotten action/omission](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Daniel A Robinson HIGH 6 BERKUT 540, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035/cases.md?model=05638HV), [All aircraft, 440 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035/cases.md)
- [Windows-windshield system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035600): Aircraft › Aircraft structures · Not used/operated (probable cause); cases with it: [Daniel A Robinson HIGH 6 BERKUT 540, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035600/cases.md?model=05638HV), [All aircraft, 13 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035600/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

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

- [Takeoff: Part(s) separation from AC](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/338) (defining event); cases with it: [Daniel A Robinson HIGH 6 BERKUT 540, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/338/sequence.md?model=05638HV), [All aircraft, 563 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/338/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that shortly after takeoff the canopy departed from the airplane. The pilot assessed that the propeller of the pusher-configured engine had been damaged based on the deceleration of the airplane and subsequently landed on the opposite direction runway without further incident. The airplane’s canopy was substantially damaged during the accident. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation, and that the accident could have been prevented by, “…verifying both canopy handles were in the locked position before takeoff.”

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N976DR](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N976DR), registered now, S/N PP-007, built 2019 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: DANIEL A ROBINSON HIGH 6 BERKUT 540
- Registry model: [Daniel A Robinson HIGH 6 BERKUT 540](https://openairdocs.org/model/daniel-a-robinson-high-6-berkut-540) (registry code 05638HV) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-540-series) (registry code 41585, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: PP-007
- Year built: 2019
- Airframe hours: 1399
- Engines: Lycoming Engines IO-540-D4A5 260 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Red 6 Technologies LLC
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, January 12, 2025, 0.1 hours before
- Destination: Same as departure
- Airport: ORL, Exec, runway 25, 6,004 × 150 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: ADS-B, Auto-pilot, Electronic primary flight display, Onboard weather

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 42; injuries: none; private, commercial, military, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review September 5, 2024; seat: front; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 1,845 total, 642.1 in this make and model, 1,420 as pilot in command, 42 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 360° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 12,000 ft overcast
- Temperature: 43 °F, dew point 32 °F
- Altimeter: 30.33 inHg
- Observed at: ORL
- METAR: METAR KORL 201353Z 36010KT 10SM OVC120 06/00 A3033 RMK AO2 SLP274 T00610000=

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 22, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=199590. 4.2 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 3.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18310304&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ERA25LA102%20Pilot%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Investigative photos (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 592 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18310602&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ERA25LA102%20Photo%20Array-Rel.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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