Dehavilland DH115 VAMPIRE N4861K accident near Reno, Nevada

Probable cause

The in-flight failure of the canopy and subsequent loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined because postaccident examination of the airframe and engine revealed no anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.

NTSB analysis

The airline transport pilot reported that, during an air race flight, he heard a "loud bang," followed by wind noise and wind entering the cockpit. The pilot immediately aborted the race by pitching the airplane up and reducing power to idle, at which point he noticed that the right side of the canopy was fractured. The pilot added that he noted throughout the climb and orbit that all engine gauges displayed normal indications as he set up for landing. As the pilot established on the downwind leg for his intended runway, he advanced the power lever and realized the engine had lost power. The pilot realized that the airplane was not going to be able to reach any of the runways, so he chose to land in the open desert north of the airport. He conducted an engine restart procedure without success. Subsequently, the pilot initiated a forced landing with the landing gear and flaps in the retracted position.

A majority of the right canopy window was fractured from the frame. The aft canopy frame had deformation damage as did the airplane structure above and aft of the upper portion of the right seat. Postaccident examination of the canopy and the reconstructed right window (about 79% of the window was identified and reconstructed) revealed no evidence of any preexisting crazing, scratching, or other anomalies that would have contributed to the fracture of the right canopy. Postaccident examination of the engine revealed no evidence of any preexisting malfunctions that would have precluded normal operation. Neither the reason for the fractured canopy nor the engine failure could be determined.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for WPR16LA181 for the full record.