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NTSB Report on Bill Phillips' Accident



 
 
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  #1  
Old September 27th 09, 04:38 AM posted to rec.aviation.homebuilt
Brian Whatcott
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Posts: 915
Default NTSB Report on Bill Phillips' Accident

Peter Dohm wrote:
....
1) Was the canopy open/unlatched?
(It very probably was)
2) Could this happen to an unimpaired pilot?
(Obviously yes, since it has happened several times)
3) Could an open/unlatched canopy be prevented, or
could the results be mitigated in a cost effective way?
(I think so, and think it needs further discussion)

As Stealth has pointed out, those canopies appear not to be a fail safe
design. One would initially presume that they would only open slightly and
maintain a slightly open position in trail, which was true in at lease one
instance and might presumably have been true of the test aircraft. However,
at least one other example appears to have behaved quite differently and I
personally doubt that the difference in shape would need to be much greater
than the thickness of a coat of paint to cause a dramatic difference in
behavior.

I suspect that a safety catch of a type common on the engine hoods of
automobiles and placed close enough to the latched position to preclude
oscillation, accompanied by the installation of a warning lamp when the
canopy is not in its fully latched position, would both mitigate the result
of an unlatched canopy and make the occurence less likely.

I still would not personally choose a hinged canopy; but those improvements
should be sufficient to render my other criticisms nearly moot.

Peter




Side and forward hinged canopies can lift in the airstream. This
would not be a "gee-whiz how could that happen" type of problem.
I have reported my own stone-cold sober experience with a side hinge top
canopy unlatching at takeoff and I would be surprised to hear of side
and front hinged canopies that DON'T lift in the air stream.
Accordingly, I think a secondary catch sounds like a very, very sensible
idea. You can't imagine how distracting it is 'til you experience it.
an inch or two of bobble would be a whole lot less threatening,
in my view.

Brian W
  #2  
Old September 27th 09, 04:04 PM posted to rec.aviation.homebuilt
bildan
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Posts: 646
Default NTSB Report on Bill Phillips' Accident

On Sep 26, 9:38*pm, brian whatcott wrote:
Peter Dohm wrote:

...

1) * *Was the canopy open/unlatched?
* * * * (It very probably was)
2) * *Could this happen to an unimpaired pilot?
* * * * (Obviously yes, since it has happened several times)
3) * *Could an open/unlatched canopy be prevented, or
* * * * could the results be mitigated in a cost effective way?
* * * * (I think so, and think it needs further discussion)


As Stealth has pointed out, those canopies appear not to be a fail safe
design. *One would initially presume that they would only open slightly and
maintain a slightly open position in trail, which was true in at lease one
instance and might presumably have been true of the test aircraft. *However,
at least one other example appears to have behaved quite differently and I
personally doubt that the difference in shape would need to be much greater
than the thickness of a coat of paint to cause a dramatic difference in
behavior.


I suspect that a safety catch of a type common on the engine hoods of
automobiles and placed close enough to the latched position to preclude
oscillation, accompanied by the installation of a warning lamp when the
canopy is not in its fully latched position, would both mitigate the result
of an unlatched canopy and make the occurence less likely.


I still would not personally choose a hinged canopy; but those improvements
should be sufficient to render my other criticisms nearly moot.


Peter


Side and forward hinged canopies can lift in the airstream. * *This
would not be a "gee-whiz how could that happen" type of problem.
I have reported my own stone-cold sober experience with a side hinge top
canopy unlatching at takeoff and I would be surprised to hear of side
and front hinged canopies that DON'T lift in the air stream.
Accordingly, I think a secondary catch sounds like a very, very sensible
idea. You can't imagine how distracting *it is 'til you experience it.
an inch or two of bobble would be a whole lot less threatening,
in my view.

Brian W


Sailplanes are adopting forward hinged canopies as a safety feature.
Any canopy opening system can open inadvertently if not properly
latched but the forward hinge system will open less violently than
other systems.

Regardless of the hinge system, an open canopy is not likely to render
an aircraft unflyable. The first priority is to FLY THE AIRCRAFT and
deal with the canopy on the ground after a safe landing.

Long experience has shown that the biggest hazard of an open canopy in
flight is the pilot trying to close the canopy and not flying the
aircraft while he's doing it. There's a history of glider accidents
with this scenario. Glider pilots are taught to assume an open canopy
is trashed, put it out of their mind and fly the glider as an open
cockpit aircraft.

As a standard part of training, I will have students open the canopy
in flight and enjoy a few minutes of open cockpit flying. The point
is for them to see that the glider flies just fine with the canopy
open so if it opens inadvertently, they aren't panicked.

Finally, one has to consider the effect of a large jolt of adrenalin
when added to Bill's drug cocktail. It's possible that he could have
dealt with flying the airplane under non-emergency conditions but not
with the stress and adrenalin of an open canopy.

Bill Daniels
  #3  
Old September 27th 09, 08:24 PM posted to rec.aviation.homebuilt
Morgans[_2_]
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Posts: 3,924
Default NTSB Report on Bill Phillips' Accident


"bildan" wrote

Finally, one has to consider the effect of a large jolt of adrenalin
when added to Bill's drug cocktail. It's possible that he could have
dealt with flying the airplane under non-emergency conditions but not
with the stress and adrenalin of an open canopy.

The adrenalin theory may be true, but I favor the John Denver type scenario.

If you turn around to the left (to turn a fuel valve or close a canopy, you
turn to the left, 99.9% of the time. Low to the ground, with clothes and
probably some dirt from the floorboards blowing around in your eyes, you
have an ideal accident chain continuing onward.
--
Jim in NC

  #4  
Old September 27th 09, 10:18 PM posted to rec.aviation.homebuilt
Peter Dohm
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 1,754
Default NTSB Report on Bill Phillips' Accident

"bildan" wrote in message
...
On Sep 26, 9:38 pm, brian whatcott wrote:
Peter Dohm wrote:

...

1) Was the canopy open/unlatched?
(It very probably was)
2) Could this happen to an unimpaired pilot?
(Obviously yes, since it has happened several times)
3) Could an open/unlatched canopy be prevented, or
could the results be mitigated in a cost effective way?
(I think so, and think it needs further discussion)


As Stealth has pointed out, those canopies appear not to be a fail safe
design. One would initially presume that they would only open slightly
and
maintain a slightly open position in trail, which was true in at lease
one
instance and might presumably have been true of the test aircraft.
However,
at least one other example appears to have behaved quite differently and
I
personally doubt that the difference in shape would need to be much
greater
than the thickness of a coat of paint to cause a dramatic difference in
behavior.


I suspect that a safety catch of a type common on the engine hoods of
automobiles and placed close enough to the latched position to preclude
oscillation, accompanied by the installation of a warning lamp when the
canopy is not in its fully latched position, would both mitigate the
result
of an unlatched canopy and make the occurence less likely.


I still would not personally choose a hinged canopy; but those
improvements
should be sufficient to render my other criticisms nearly moot.


Peter


Side and forward hinged canopies can lift in the airstream. This
would not be a "gee-whiz how could that happen" type of problem.
I have reported my own stone-cold sober experience with a side hinge top
canopy unlatching at takeoff and I would be surprised to hear of side
and front hinged canopies that DON'T lift in the air stream.
Accordingly, I think a secondary catch sounds like a very, very sensible
idea. You can't imagine how distracting it is 'til you experience it.
an inch or two of bobble would be a whole lot less threatening,
in my view.

Brian W


Sailplanes are adopting forward hinged canopies as a safety feature.
Any canopy opening system can open inadvertently if not properly
latched but the forward hinge system will open less violently than
other systems.

Regardless of the hinge system, an open canopy is not likely to render
an aircraft unflyable. The first priority is to FLY THE AIRCRAFT and
deal with the canopy on the ground after a safe landing.

Long experience has shown that the biggest hazard of an open canopy in
flight is the pilot trying to close the canopy and not flying the
aircraft while he's doing it. There's a history of glider accidents
with this scenario. Glider pilots are taught to assume an open canopy
is trashed, put it out of their mind and fly the glider as an open
cockpit aircraft.

As a standard part of training, I will have students open the canopy
in flight and enjoy a few minutes of open cockpit flying. The point
is for them to see that the glider flies just fine with the canopy
open so if it opens inadvertently, they aren't panicked.

Finally, one has to consider the effect of a large jolt of adrenalin
when added to Bill's drug cocktail. It's possible that he could have
dealt with flying the airplane under non-emergency conditions but not
with the stress and adrenalin of an open canopy.

Bill Daniels

-------------new post begins---------------

You have fewer choices with the sailplane, because few if any could accept a
rearward sliding canopy. Therefore, the front hinged canopy should be a big
safety improvement over the side hinged designs--especially with the lower
speeds and narrower cabin.

Personally, I would still include a safety catch; but the benefit should be
far less dramatic.

Peter



  #5  
Old September 28th 09, 03:21 AM posted to rec.aviation.homebuilt
bildan
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 646
Default NTSB Report on Bill Phillips' Accident

On Sep 27, 3:18*pm, "Peter Dohm" wrote:
"bildan" wrote in message

...
On Sep 26, 9:38 pm, brian whatcott wrote:



Peter Dohm wrote:


...


1) Was the canopy open/unlatched?
(It very probably was)
2) Could this happen to an unimpaired pilot?
(Obviously yes, since it has happened several times)
3) Could an open/unlatched canopy be prevented, or
could the results be mitigated in a cost effective way?
(I think so, and think it needs further discussion)


As Stealth has pointed out, those canopies appear not to be a fail safe
design. One would initially presume that they would only open slightly
and
maintain a slightly open position in trail, which was true in at lease
one
instance and might presumably have been true of the test aircraft.
However,
at least one other example appears to have behaved quite differently and
I
personally doubt that the difference in shape would need to be much
greater
than the thickness of a coat of paint to cause a dramatic difference in
behavior.


I suspect that a safety catch of a type common on the engine hoods of
automobiles and placed close enough to the latched position to preclude
oscillation, accompanied by the installation of a warning lamp when the
canopy is not in its fully latched position, would both mitigate the
result
of an unlatched canopy and make the occurence less likely.


I still would not personally choose a hinged canopy; but those
improvements
should be sufficient to render my other criticisms nearly moot.


Peter


Side and forward hinged canopies can lift in the airstream. This
would not be a "gee-whiz how could that happen" type of problem.
I have reported my own stone-cold sober experience with a side hinge top
canopy unlatching at takeoff and I would be surprised to hear of side
and front hinged canopies that DON'T lift in the air stream.
Accordingly, I think a secondary catch sounds like a very, very sensible
idea. You can't imagine how distracting it is 'til you experience it.
an inch or two of bobble would be a whole lot less threatening,
in my view.


Brian W


Sailplanes are adopting forward hinged canopies as a safety feature.
Any canopy opening system can open inadvertently if not properly
latched but the forward hinge system will open less violently than
other systems.

Regardless of the hinge system, an open canopy is not likely to render
an aircraft unflyable. *The first priority is to FLY THE AIRCRAFT and
deal with the canopy on the ground after a safe landing.

Long experience has shown that the biggest hazard of an open canopy in
flight is the pilot trying to close the canopy and not flying the
aircraft while he's doing it. *There's a history of glider accidents
with this scenario. *Glider pilots are taught to assume an open canopy
is trashed, put it out of their mind and fly the glider as an open
cockpit aircraft.

As a standard part of training, I will have students open the canopy
in flight and enjoy a few minutes of open cockpit flying. *The point
is for them to see that the glider flies just fine with the canopy
open so if it opens inadvertently, they aren't panicked.

Finally, one has to consider the effect of a large jolt of adrenalin
when added to Bill's drug cocktail. *It's possible that he could have
dealt with flying the airplane under non-emergency conditions but not
with the stress and adrenalin of an open canopy.

Bill Daniels

-------------new post begins---------------

You have fewer choices with the sailplane, because few if any could accept a
rearward sliding canopy. *Therefore, the front hinged canopy should be a big
safety improvement over the side hinged designs--especially with the lower
speeds and narrower cabin.

Personally, I would still include a safety catch; but the benefit should be
far less dramatic.

Peter


True, few modern gliders could accommodate the classic sliding canopy
but an old one did - the USAAF TG-4. War surplus TG-4's were used by
many US soaring clubs from WWII to around 1965.

The rear seat had a sliding canopy which made summer instructing much
more fun. OTOH, the canopy didn't seal very well when closed so
winter instruction was cold and drafty.
  #6  
Old September 28th 09, 03:21 PM posted to rec.aviation.homebuilt
Wayne Paul
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 905
Default NTSB Report on Bill Phillips' Accident


Sailplanes are adopting forward hinged canopies as a safety feature.
Any canopy opening system can open inadvertently if not properly
latched but the forward hinge system will open less violently than
other systems.

Regardless of the hinge system, an open canopy is not likely to render
an aircraft unflyable. The first priority is to FLY THE AIRCRAFT and
deal with the canopy on the ground after a safe landing.

Long experience has shown that the biggest hazard of an open canopy in
flight is the pilot trying to close the canopy and not flying the
aircraft while he's doing it. There's a history of glider accidents
with this scenario. Glider pilots are taught to assume an open canopy
is trashed, put it out of their mind and fly the glider as an open
cockpit aircraft.


Bill is correct. The biggest hazard of an unlatch/open canopy is trying to close it. I can make this statement as a "voice of experience."
http://www.soaridaho.com/Schreder/HP-16/nocan.htm

I only had about 30 hours in glider when this incident occurred. If I my glider had a forward hinged canopy the result of an unlatched canopy would have been a bit of noise caused by the canopy not being properly sealed.

One of these days I am going to have to replace the canopy on my current homebuilt sailplane. When the time arrives a I will install forward hinged canopy.

Wayne
http://tinyurl.com/N990-6F
  #7  
Old September 28th 09, 03:56 PM posted to rec.aviation.homebuilt
vaughn[_2_]
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 92
Default NTSB Report on Bill Phillips' Accident


"Wayne Paul" wrote in message
news
Bill is correct. The biggest hazard of an unlatch/open canopy is trying to
close it. I can make this statement as a "voice of experience."
http://www.soaridaho.com/Schreder/HP-16/nocan.htm


To add to Wayne's excellent post, the following canopy-caused accident
always sticks in my mind. It caused fatal injuries to a paying passenger,
severe injuries to the Commercial pilot, & less severe injusies to the tow
pilot. There happened to be an FAA inspector watching the accident happen,
so the witness description is probably better than most.

"A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Aviation Safety Inspector witnessed
the accident. In a
written statement the Inspector said:

"My attention was drawn to the glider by its erratic pitch changes. As I
concentrated on the

glider I saw that the rear canopy had opened and the person in the rear seat
extended an arm toward

the open canopy. At the same time, the glider pitched up rather steeply and
the arm returned

inside the glider. With the canopy still open, the glider reduced its pitch
but remained on high

tow. This effort to close the canopy occurred at least three times with the
glider going higher

and higher. Toward the end of the runway, the tow plane began to descend
then pitch up once or

twice then descend and impact the ground. As the tow plane impacted the
ground, the glider, which

was much higher and still on the tow rope, continued forward and climbing
and the tow rope became

almost vertical...[which] separated from the glider and fell in a pile by
the tow plane. The

glider continued...beyond the tow plane...rolled left to the inverted
position...and impacted the

ground..."

http://www.ntsb.gov/ntsb/GenPDF.asp?...9FA004B&rpt=fa


Like I said, this one sticks in my mind, but if you search the NTSB database
you will find too many more.

Vaughn


  #8  
Old September 29th 09, 05:20 AM posted to rec.aviation.homebuilt
bildan
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 646
Default NTSB Report on Bill Phillips' Accident

On Sep 28, 8:56*am, "vaughn"
wrote:
"Wayne Paul" wrote in message

news
Bill is correct. *The biggest hazard of an unlatch/open canopy is trying to
close it. *I can make this statement as a "voice of experience."
http://www.soaridaho.com/Schreder/HP-16/nocan.htm


To add to Wayne's excellent post, the following canopy-caused accident
always sticks in my mind. *It caused fatal injuries to a paying passenger,
severe injuries to the Commercial pilot, & less severe injusies to the tow
pilot. *There happened to be an FAA inspector watching the accident happen,
so the witness description is probably better than most.

"A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Aviation Safety Inspector witnessed
the accident. In a
written statement the Inspector said:

"My attention was drawn to the glider by its erratic pitch changes. As I
concentrated on the

glider I saw that the rear canopy had opened and the person in the rear seat
extended an arm toward

the open canopy. At the same time, the glider pitched up rather steeply and
the arm returned

inside the glider. With the canopy still open, the glider reduced its pitch
but remained on high

tow. This effort to close the canopy occurred at least three times with the
glider going higher

and higher. Toward the end of the runway, the tow plane began to descend
then pitch up once or

twice then descend and impact the ground. As the tow plane impacted the
ground, the glider, which

was much higher and still on the tow rope, continued forward and climbing
and the tow rope became

almost vertical...[which] separated from the glider and fell in a pile by
the tow plane. The

glider continued...beyond the tow plane...rolled left to the inverted
position...and impacted the

ground..."

http://www.ntsb.gov/ntsb/GenPDF.asp?...9FA004B&rpt=fa

Like I said, this one sticks in my mind, but if you search the NTSB database
you will find too many more.

Vaughn


I should have added that when letting a student open a canopy in
flight, it is done at low airspeed and in a glider whose canopy is
known to be easily opened and closed in flight. There are many
expensive two-east gliders with canopies costing thousands of dollars
that I would never let a student risk.

On at least one occasion a student of mine who had experienced a
deliberate canopy opening with me later suffered an inadvertent
opening and handled it well. He told me the story years after his
training.

Bill Daniels
 




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