Amateur-built ONE EASY N227TB accident near Battle Creek, Michigan

Probable cause

The pilot’s loss of airplane control due to his diverted attention to the canopy opening in flight.

NTSB analysis

The pilot planned to return to his home airport in a homebuilt kit airplane. A witness recorded the airplane taxi from the ramp to the taxiway, and the video showed that the right side of the canopy appeared to be bouncing open slightly as the airplane taxied. A witness reported that, during departure, the airplane rocked side-to-side, and the controller reported that the airplane did not track a straight line during the takeoff and was flying erratically once airborne. Another witness reported that the canopy was open and that the pilot was clearly visible with no glass over his head during the takeoff. An airport security video captured the airplane on the downwind leg when it made a 180-degree turn back to the departure runway, banked in excess of 90 degrees, then rapidly dropped and impacted terrain. However, the video did not provide a detailed view of the canopy. A postcrash fire erupted. The fire consumed a majority of the composite airplane; therefore, a detailed examination of the canopy hinge and locking system was not possible. However, the erratic flying and turn toward the airport just after takeoff is consistent with the pilot's loss of control while trying to make an emergency return to the airport after the canopy opened in flight.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for CEN15FA386 for the full record.