Additional Participating Entity:
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Hillsboro, Oregon
Aviation Accident Factual Report - National Transportation Safety Board: https://app.ntsb.gov/pdf
Location: Pendelton, OR
Accident Number: WPR17LA116
Date & Time: 05/20/2017, 1459 PDT
Registration: N68PW
Aircraft: EXTRA FLUGZEUGBAU EA 300/S
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Defining Event: Miscellaneous/other
Injuries: 1 None
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation - Personal
On May 20, 2017, about 1459 Pacific daylight time, the canopy of an experimental Extra Flugzeugbau EA 300/S airplane, N68PW, departed from the airplane during takeoff roll from Eastern Oregon Regional Airport (PDT) Pendleton, Oregon. The private pilot was not injured. The airplane was substantially damaged to the canopy and wing. The airplane was registered to Precision Aerosports LLC and operated by the pilot under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed for the local flight that was originating at the time.
During a telephone interview with a National Transportation Safety Board investigator, the pilot stated that shortly after the start of the takeoff roll, the canopy began to lift up and separate from the airplane. The airplane subsequently veered left, exited the runway, and struck an airport runway sign, during the aborted takeoff. The pilot reported that he did not remember checking that the canopy was locked and was fairly sure it was not latched. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunction or failure that would have precluded normal operation.
Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed no anomalies with the canopy, canopy attachment bolts, mounting bolt holes, latches, or locking mechanism. Additionally, no cracking or corrosion was observed.
The canopy is manufactured in one section and is operated manually by the pilot and opens by lifting it to the right. The canopy has fore and aft interior locking handles, located on the left side of the canopy frame, that must be squeezed together to unlock the canopy. Both locking handles must be in the outward position when locked. A placard located near the locking handles of the cockpit indicates the unlock and locked positions.
The airplane Pilot's Operating Handbook contains a checklist item, to close and lock the canopy, both in the Before Starting Engine, and the Taxi, checklists. Further, a caution about the canopy states: "handles of the lock mechanism must be in opposite position indicated with a red line on the canopy frame. Check gap between canopy frame and fuselage fairing!"
Pilot Information
Certificate: Private
Age: 52, Male
Airplane Rating(s): Single-engine Land
Seat Occupied: Single
Other Aircraft Rating(s): Glider
Restraint Used: 5-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: 04/25/2016
Occupational Pilot: No
Last Flight Review or Equivalent: 06/25/2017
Flight Time: (Estimated) 590 hours (Total, all aircraft), 133 hours (Total, this make and model), 540 hours (Pilot In Command, all aircraft), 11 hours (Last 90 days, all aircraft), 3 hours (Last 30 days, all aircraft), 2 hours (Last 24 hours, all aircraft)
Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information
Aircraft Make: EXTRA FLUGZEUGBAU
Registration: N68PW
Model/Series: EA 300/S S
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Year of Manufacture: 1999
Amateur Built: No
Airworthiness Certificate: Experimental
Serial Number: 030
Landing Gear Type: Tailwheel
Seats: 1
Date/Type of Last Inspection: 05/07/2017, Annual
Certified Max Gross Wt.: 2028 lbs
Time Since Last Inspection:
Engines: 1 Reciprocating
Airframe Total Time: 2398.89 Hours at time of accident
Engine Manufacturer: LYCOMING
ELT: Not installed
Engine Model/Series: AEIO-580-X
Registered Owner: On file
Rated Power: 350 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: PDT, 1496 ft msl
Distance from Accident Site: 0 Nautical Miles
Observation Time: 1453 PDT
Direction from Accident Site:
Lowest Cloud Condition: Clear
Visibility: 10 Miles
Lowest Ceiling: None
Visibility (RVR):
Wind Speed/Gusts: 5 knots /
Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual: /
Wind Direction: 290°
Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual: /
Altimeter Setting: 30.07 inches Hg
Temperature/Dew Point: 22°C / 8°C
Precipitation and Obscuration: No Obscuration; No Precipitation
Departure Point: Pendelton, OR (PDT)
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Destination: Pendelton, OR (PDT)
Type of Clearance: None
Departure Time: 1459 PDT
Type of Airspace: Class D
Airport Information
Airport: EASTERN OREGON RGNL AT PENDLET (PDT)
Runway Surface Type: Asphalt
Airport Elevation: 1496 ft
Runway Surface Condition: Dry
Runway Used: 29
IFR Approach: None
Runway Length/Width: 5581 ft / 100 ft
VFR Approach/Landing: None
Wreckage and Impact Information
Crew Injuries: 1 None
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 1 None
Latitude, Longitude: 45.694722, -118.843056 (est)
NTSB Identification: WPR17LA116
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Saturday, May 20, 2017 in Pendelton, OR
Aircraft: EXTRA FLUGZEUGBAU EA 300/S, registration: N68PW
Injuries: 1 Uninjured.
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 May 20, 2017, about 1303 Pacific daylight time, an experimental Extra Flugzeugbau EA 300/S, N68PW, sustained substantial damage after the canopy separated from the airplane during takeoff roll at the Eastern Oregon Regional Airport at Pendleton (PDT) Pendleton, Oregon. The airplane was registered to and operated by Precision Aerosports, LLC under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The Airline Transport pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed for the local flight.
During a telephone interview with the National Transportation Safety Board investigator-in-charge (IIC), the pilot stated that shortly after the start of the takeoff roll, the canopy began to lift up and then separated from the airplane.
The airplane was recovered to a secure location for further examination.
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