Additional Participating Entity:
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Louisville, Kentucky and Nashville, Tennessee
http://registry.faa.gov/N602SL
Aviation Accident Factual Report - National Transportation Safety Board
Location: London, KY
Accident Number: ERA16LA274
Date & Time: 07/24/2016, 1037 EDT
Registration: N602SL
Aircraft: ALISPORT SRL SILENT 2 TARGA
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Defining Event: Miscellaneous/other
Injuries: 1 Minor
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation - Personal
On July 24, 2016, about 1037 eastern daylight time, a privately owned and operated AliSport SRL Silent 2 Targa motor-glider, N602SL, collided with terrain during an attempted landing at London-Corbin Airport-Magee Field (LOZ), London, Kentucky. The private pilot sustained minor injuries and the motor-glider was substantially damaged. The flight was operating under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91, as a local, personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed, for the flight that originated about 7 minutes earlier from LOZ.
The pilot stated that earlier that day, he flew the motor-glider around the traffic pattern at LOZ, and landed uneventfully then secured the motor-glider. There were no discrepancies associated with the canopy during the first flight. When attempting to close the canopy in advance of the accident flight, he noted the right latch did not seat properly. He cycled the right canopy latch and noted it was then seated OK, and then started the engine. He taxied onto runway 24, and initiated takeoff.
After becoming airborne he turned crosswind and then onto downwind leg where while flying at 700 feet above ground level (agl) and 50 mph, he heard a thump on his right knee. He reported the right canopy latch released allowing the right side of the canopy to raise about 1 inch along its full length, though the right canopy lever was full forward at the time (latched). He thought he could close the canopy, but the left side then released. While holding the rear of the canopy down with both hands as best he could, the canopy twisted which released the front latch. He thought about jettisoning the canopy but elected not to, making the decision to attempt to save the canopy. He secured the engine but he did not center the propeller nor retract the engine. He wrestled to keep the canopy closed and when he slowed the glider, the nose of the canopy came up. While wrestling to hold the canopy closed he turned base to final but realized he had drifted too far from the runway. While descending at 50 mph, he was forced to fly the glider into trees short of the runway. The left wing impacted a tree about 15 feet agl, then the motor-glider impacted the ground. He exited the motor-glider, walked to the airport, and was taken to a local hospital for treatment of his injury. He further indicated that at no point either in-flight or after coming to rest did he jettison the canopy.
A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector examined the motor-glider at the accident site, and found the canopy in close proximity to the main wreckage. Some of the canopy acrylic material was missing but the canopy frame was intact. Further examination of the canopy revealed the left and right latch handles and rods, and also each rod receiver hole in the airframe were intact with no damage noted. Operational testing of the left and right canopy latches and the canopy emergency jettison system revealed no discrepancies. It was noted by the FAA inspector that the canopy could be offset from its normal position during the closing process and that the respective latch rod in that situation would be outside the airframe receiver hole not allowing the canopy to secure properly. It was also noted that there was no visual indication to indicate that the canopy was closed properly, and in the event that the canopy would raise in-flight due to being improperly secured, it would likely lift from the rear initially, but once the air pressure equalized with a forward airspeed, the canopy would stabilize in forward flight.
The accident pilot purchased the motor-glider in June 2014, and since owning it he accrued 2.5 hours. During those flights excluding the accident flight, there were no reported problems with the canopy latch mechanism.
A review of the maintenance records revealed the airplane's last condition inspection occurred on April 20, 2016. The entry associated with the inspection indicated the canopy eject system was functionally checked. The motor-glider had accrued about 2 hours since the inspection was performed.
Pilot Information
Certificate: Private
Age: 71, Male
Airplane Rating(s): Single-engine Land
Seat Occupied: Single
Other Aircraft Rating(s): Glider
Restraint Used: 3-point
Instrument Rating(s): None
Second Pilot Present: No
Instructor Rating(s): None
Toxicology Performed: No
Medical Certification: Class 3 With Waivers/Limitations
Last FAA Medical Exam: 09/19/2014
Occupational Pilot: No
Last Flight Review or Equivalent: 05/07/2015
Flight Time: 438 hours (Total, all aircraft), 5.3 hours (Total, this make and model), 329 hours (Pilot In Command, all aircraft), 5 hours (Last 90 days, all aircraft), 1.5 hours (Last 30 days, all aircraft), 0.2 hours (Last 24 hours, all aircraft)
Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information
Aircraft Manufacturer: ALISPORT SRL
Registration: N602SL
Model/Series: SILENT 2 TARGA
Aircraft Category: Glider
Year of Manufacture: 2006
Amateur Built: No
Airworthiness Certificate: Experimental
Serial Number: 2024
Landing Gear Type: Retractable - Tailwheel
Seats: 1
Date/Type of Last Inspection: 04/20/2016, Condition
Certified Max Gross Wt.: 660 lbs
Time Since Last Inspection: 2 Hours
Engines: 1 Reciprocating
Airframe Total Time: 480.4 Hours at time of accident
Engine Manufacturer: Alisport Srl.
ELT: Not installed
Engine Model/Series: A302efi
Registered Owner: On file
Rated Power: 28 hp
Operator: On file
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None
Meteorological Information and Flight Plan
Conditions at Accident Site: Visual Conditions
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: LOZ, 1212 ft msl
Observation Time: 1053 EDT
Distance from Accident Site: 1 Nautical Miles
Direction from Accident Site: 240°
Lowest Cloud Condition: Clear
Temperature/Dew Point: 29°C / 21°C
Lowest Ceiling: None
Visibility: 10 Miles
Wind Speed/Gusts, Direction: 7 knots, 210°
Visibility (RVR):
Altimeter Setting: 30.07 inches Hg
Visibility (RVV):
Precipitation and Obscuration: No Obscuration; No Precipitation
Departure Point: London, KY (LOZ)
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Destination: London, KY (LOZ)
Type of Clearance: None
Departure Time: 1030 EDT
Type of Airspace:
Airport Information
Airport: London-Corbin (LOZ)
Runway Surface Type: Asphalt
Airport Elevation: 1212 ft
Runway Surface Condition: Dry
Runway Used: 24
IFR Approach: None
Runway Length/Width: 5751 ft / 150 ft
VFR Approach/Landing: Forced Landing; Traffic Pattern
Wreckage and Impact Information
Crew Injuries: 1 Minor
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 1 Minor
Latitude, Longitude: 37.093056, -84.067500 (est)
NTSB Identification: ERA16LA274
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Sunday, July 24, 2016 in London, KY
Aircraft: ALISPORT SRL SILENT 2 TARGA, registration: N602SL
Injuries: 1 Minor.
This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed. NTSB investigators may not have traveled in support of this investigation and used data provided by various sources to prepare this aircraft accident report.
On July 24, 2016, about 1037 eastern daylight time, an AliSport SRL Silent 2 Targa, N602SL, collided with terrain while landing at London-Corbin Airport-Magee Field (LOZ), London, Kentucky. The private pilot sustained minor injuries and the motor-glider was substantially damaged. The glider was registered to and operated by a private individual under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91, as a local, personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The flight originated about 7 minutes earlier from LOZ.
The pilot stated that he performed a short-duration flight around the LOZ traffic pattern earlier that morning and reported no discrepancies. He then intended to fly a second flight to locate thermals. In advance of that flight, he boarded the glider, and while attempting to latch the canopy he identified that the right latch was not secure. He cycled the right latch which corrected the issue then started the engine and taxied to the runway. After takeoff he climbed to 500 feet above ground level (agl) and turned onto the crosswind and then downwind legs of the traffic pattern. While flying at 700 feet agl and 50 mph with the engine operating, he heard a sound and noted that the right canopy latch released which allowed the right side to rise up about 1 inch. He attempted to close the canopy but the left side then became released followed by the nose hinge. The pilot opted not to jettison the canopy because the engine was operating, and attempted to keep the canopy from separating. He secured the engine but did not center the propeller or retract the engine. He turned onto the base and then final leg of the traffic pattern, but noted the glider was not aligned and would be unable to reach the runway. While descending at 50 mph, the left wing collided with trees. The glider then descended and impacted the ground coming to rest in a nose-low attitude with the canopy nearby.
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