ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 263753
This information is added by users of ASN. Neither ASN nor the Flight Safety Foundation are responsible for the completeness or correctness of this information.
If you feel this information is incomplete or incorrect, you can submit corrected information.
| Date: | Tuesday 8 June 2021 |
| Time: | 16:00 |
| Type: |  Zenith CH 601 XL Zodiac |
| Owner/operator: | Private |
| Registration: | N315SV |
| MSN: | 6-7188 |
| Year of manufacture: | 2012 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 321 hours |
| Engine model: | Rotax 912S |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 1 |
| Aircraft damage: | Substantial |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | Cumberland, MD -
 United States of America
|
| Phase: | Approach |
| Nature: | Private |
| Departure airport: | Mexico Farms Airport, MD (1W3) |
| Mexico Farms Airport, MD (1W3) | |
| Investigating agency: | NTSB |
| Confidence Rating: |  Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
On June 8, 2021, about 1600 eastern daylight time, an experimental amateur-built ZODIAC 601 XL, N315SV was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Mexico Farms Airport (1W3), Cumberland, Maryland. The pilot sustained minor injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight.
Shortly after departure, the noncertificated pilot and builder of the experimental amateur-built airplane was flying at 1,000 ft mean sea level on the base leg of the airport traffic pattern when the right side of the cockpit canopy suddenly came loose and popped open. This was immediately followed by the left side of the canopy opening and then the entire canopy opened. The pilot stated this open canopy acted like a “giant air brake” and the airplane entered a descent that he was unable to arrest. The airplane descended into trees bordering the airport property, which resulted in substantial damage to the airframe.
Postaccident examination of the right side canopy frame and latching mechanism found that although the latch did not show any irregularities or anomalous preimpact damage, the mechanism could easily be opened with slight finger pressure and no safeguard was present to keep the latch from opening prematurely. In addition, the several layers of foam weatherstripping installed along the frame of the canopy may have made it difficult for the latch to become properly seated during closure. Based on this information, it is likely that the latching mechanism was not completely secured prior to the flight or that the pilot inadvertently released the mechanism, with resulted in the canopy opening fully while in the airport traffic pattern, and the subsequent inability to sustain further flight.
Probable Cause: An inadvertent release of the canopy, which allowing the canopy to open during flight and led to an inflight loss of airplane control. Contributing to the accident was the lack of any safeguard to prevent the inadvertent opening of the canopy.
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
https://www.wcbcradio.com/?news=small-plane-crash-reported-near-mexico-farms-area
NTSB
https://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/Search/NNumberResult?NNumberTxt=315SV
Location
Media:
The Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board are investigating a plane crash in Cumberland. According the Allegany County Sheriff’s Office on Tues June 8th emergency crews were called out to the area of Bierman Drive for a reported motorcycle crash pic.twitter.com/8buFyzqHzu
— Amanda Mangan (@amandamanganarc) June 9, 2021
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 09-Jun-2021 11:30 | Iceman 29 | Added |
| 09-Jun-2021 11:42 | RobertMB | Updated [Aircraft type, Registration, Cn, Location, Phase, Source, Embed code, Narrative] |
| 09-Jun-2021 11:51 | Captain Adam | Updated [Location, Narrative] |
| 09-Jun-2021 11:56 | RobertMB | Updated [Narrative] |
Corrections or additions? ... Edit this accident description
The Aviation Safety Network is an exclusive service provided by:
Quick Links:
| ASN Home | Send Correction / Feedback |
| FSF Home | Disclaimer | Copyright |
| Contact Us | Privacy Policy |
| Press / Media |
CONNECT WITH US:
©2024 Flight Safety Foundation