On Friday, May 10, 2019 at 4:30:27 PM UTC-4, Steve Koerner wrote:
I'm hypothesising about a certain risk scenario that could happen: landing somewhere or crashing somewhere and canopy won't open. If it's hot especially, one might not last long enough for help to arrive if summoned by phone or radio.

My question is how to get through a canopy that's stuck or has a broken latch mechanism. Maybe someone has had relevant experience with this issue?

An obvious possibility might be to grab the window and try to tear the plexiglass apart (after donning kevlar gloves perhaps). I don't have a good intuition as to whether that is possible or not. Has anyone ever done that or does anyone maybe have access to a junk canopy to try it on? Another possibility is to carry a small saw or some other tool. Are there any specific tools that you know will work effectively on canopy plexiglass yet are compact enough to stash in a tight cockpit (there's no room to carry a hammer)?

I would suggest remembering that almost all canopy systems have 2 retention sections. One supports and pivots, the other retains closed.
Releasing both may well provide a degree of freedom to get the canopy off beyond just releasing the side or rear latches.
Rule of thumb- canopies only break when you don't want the too.
FWIW
UH