The L-13 canopy latch is a better (though far from perfect) example of a
side-canopy latch. If properly maintained, it is almost idiot proof because it
latches automatically, much like your car door or the hood of your car. Your
basic cam-acting door latch was probably invented hundreds of years ago; why
can't we have this "space-age" technology in our gliders?

Vaughn

The Cezznas have this technology for the side doors, and it is a cause
of occasional failure.

There seems to be a philosophical and legal issue: if it is a stone-cold
simple "pilot must move it to open or close" then it is obviously the
pilot's fault if it isn't closed. If it slightly more complex,
self-latching and it fails, the manufacturer is sued. So manufacturers
would have to make self-latching canopy latches that are simply
IMPOSSIBLE to fail. This is actually very, very challenging...
The other issue is what if they fail to open when someone wants
to eject? Or what if one can convince 12 senior citizens that
this might have happened?

Springs get debris in them or fail, latches and cams repeatedly
rubbed eventually wear, etc. From a manufacturers standpoint,
self-latching canopies are a no-no. I don't think we'll ever see
them in manufacture by any company that can ever be sued...
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Mark Boyd
Avenal, California, USA