# NTSB GAA18CA544: Halladay Roy Lockheed, N514RH, Denver, CO, September 9, 2018 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: September 9, 2018, 12:10 local (18:10 UTC) - Place: Denver, CO - Coordinates: 39.908889, -105.117225 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.9089&lon=-105.1172&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Part(s) separation from AC](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/338) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 20, 2020 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 98276 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA18CA544 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/98276/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=98276 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA18CA544 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to verify that the emergency canopy release was in the correct position when opening the canopy during landing, which resulted in the canopy separating from the airplane and subsequently impacting the empennage. ## 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: [Halladay Roy LOCKHD T-33/HALLADAY, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035210/cases.md?model=056090M), [All aircraft, 86 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035210/cases.md) - [Action: incorrect action selection](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041010): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Halladay Roy LOCKHD T-33/HALLADAY, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041010/cases.md?model=056090M), [All aircraft, 397 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041010/cases.md) - [Doors: passenger/crew doors](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035210): Aircraft › Aircraft structures · Design; cases with it: [Halladay Roy LOCKHD T-33/HALLADAY, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035210/cases.md?model=056090M), [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. - [Landing-landing roll: Part(s) separation from AC](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/338) (defining event); cases with it: [Halladay Roy LOCKHD T-33/HALLADAY, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/338/sequence.md?model=056090M), [All aircraft, 562 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/338/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900); cases with it: [Halladay Roy LOCKHD T-33/HALLADAY, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md?model=056090M), [All aircraft, 1,557 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that, upon landing, he activated the canopy motor to open the canopy about 2 inches, but the canopy continued to open, separated from the airframe, and struck the empennage. He added that it was standard procedure upon landing to open the canopy slightly to aid in slowing the airplane and egress in a runway excursion event. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the empennage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot added that the emergency canopy release, which anchors the canopy to the airframe when the canopy motor was turned on, was inadvertently released during the flight. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that, it was standard procedure upon landing to open the canopy slightly to aid in slowing the airplane and egress in a runway excursion event. Upon landing, the pilot activated the canopy motor to open the canopy about 2 inches, but the canopy continued to open, separated from the airframe and struck the tail. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the empennage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot added that emergency canopy release, which anchors the canopy to the airframe when the canopy motor was turned on, was inadvertently released during the flight. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N514RH](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N514RH), registered now, S/N 001, built 2000 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: HALLADAY ROY LOCKHEED (T-33) - Registry model: [Halladay Roy LOCKHD T-33/HALLADAY](https://openairdocs.org/model/halladay-roy-lockhd-t-33-halladay) (registry code 056090M) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Allison J33-A series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/allison-j33-a-series) (registry code 03007, turbo-jet) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 001 - Year built: 2000 - Airframe hours: 207.8 - Engines: Allison J33-A35 5200 lbs thrust turbo jet - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Positioning, Part 91 - Operator: T-33 Aviation Llc - Registered owner: T-33 Aviation Llc - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special); Standard, Other - Last inspection: Condition, May 22, 2018 - Departed: APA, Denver, CO - Destination: BJC, Denver, CO - Airport: BJC, Rocky Mountain Metropolitan, runway 12L, 9,000 × 100 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Electronic primary flight display, Electronic multifunction display ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 67; injuries: none; flight instructor, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review June 30, 2018; seat: front; flight hours: 25,050 total, 220 in this make and model, 22,000 as pilot in command, 100 in the last 90 days, 25 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 90° at 7 knots, gusting 14 - Visibility: 30 statute miles - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 36 °F - Altimeter: 30.06 inHg - Observed at: KBJC, 1 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 20180909013319A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180909013319A), Sep 9, 2018: Halladay Roy LOCKHEED T-33/HALLADAY, Broomfield, CO, Substantial damage. On 09/09/2018 at 1210 MDT, N514RH, a Lockheed T33 experimental exhabition airplane had it's canopy depart the aircraft and strike the vertical fin and rudder… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 26, 2019, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=98276. 2.2 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 2.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40478369&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Accident Photo (item 2, .PDF, 129 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40478370&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photo-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.