Siai Marchetti F260C, N61FD, 21 March 2010
Siai Marchetti F260C, N61FD
Summary:
As the aircraft climbed through 2,500 ft the pilot became aware that the rear of the canopy on the left side had lifted by approximately 25 mm from its normal position. He declared a MAYDAY to Farnborough Radar and stated his intention to divert to Southend Airport. He reduced the airspeed but this did not prevent the canopy from departing the aircraft and striking the fin and right side of the tailplane. The aircraft remained controllable, but the pilot felt that the elevator authority had been reduced. Given the possibility of structural damage, he decided to carry out a precautionary landing in a field. The reduced elevator authority made the approach more difficult and the landing on soft ground caused the nose gear to collapse, resulting in extensive damage to the aircraft. The pilot was uninjured and able to vacate the aircraft unaided. The rearward-sliding canopy is mounted on rollers which run in rails. The rails are attached to each side of the fuselage by three sliding pins that locate into lugs on each rail. Operation of the canopy jettison handle causes the sliding pins to be withdrawn, allowing the canopy to be jettisoned in an emergency. The pilot reported that the jettison handle was still locked in the normal position and that the damage suggested that the sliding pins were not fully located in the lugs on the left hand rail. The aircraft had flown for four hours since refitment of the canopy following maintenance activity.
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