Canopy in rollover

[Darick]

This is not a popular subject but,...

I've never heard of any procedures for preventing entrapment in case you are upside down after an off airport landing...jettison the canopy before landing? Unlatching it in flight seems like it could be quite violent. And what about controllability without the canopy in place?

[MichaelFarley56]

Interesting thought Darick. To be honest, I've never heard of a Sonex flipping over. Of course it could happen but it seems like a remote chance.

If it would, I think the turtledeck would provide good roll over protection but I don't see the canopy surviving. My guess is you can probably kick your way out of the canopy fairly easily if needed.

I don't really know about unlatching the canopy in flight in order to jettison it. I would guess that will tear the canopy away so it may work, but I have no idea how well the airplane could be controlled without the canopy. Perhaps you could do that a few seconds before landing?

Hopefully no one ever has to try it for real! :shock:

[Darick]

Thanks for the reply. I agree, hope no one ever has to try...enough said.

[Bryan Cotton]

I would focus on the landing rather than mess with the canopy. If you were really concerned bring an axe. I think they sell escape tools too. I have wondered before if a battery powered rotozip would make a good escape tool.

[Sonerai13]

I wouldn't recommend messing with the canopy during an emergency landing approach. You'll have plenty to think about without adding the canopy in to the mix.

What some pilots do is carry some sort of canopy/window breaker with them. There are several options for this, from "life hammers" to dedicated window breakers, etc. I have a folding survival knife that has a window breaker point on the base of the handle. fits in the flight bag and also has a belt clip. Just in case!

[radfordc]

I recall seeing pics of a Sonex in Florida that went upside down. The canopy was totally shattered and the pilot crawled out. I keep a heavy knife strapped to the seat just in case. I tested breaking an old canopy and it broke easily.

[radfordc]

Here is my canopy breaker tool. A $10 Harbor Freight knife cut down.

[Jeffrylite]

Since this is a new forum, I have to comment on this topic and maybe provide a bit of history. As I recall there was a gent in Florida that stuck one of his mains (TD) into a huge gopher hole landing on grass and tore off his gear and flipped it upside down. As I recall, the canopy was intact upon coming to rest inverted. He was able to break it and egress without issue, but I don't recall the tool used.

I also have to share what was one of my favorite posts on the other forum about this topic. After considerable discussion on various tools, where to store them and a variety of topics including axes's flying around the cockpit during a less than normal landing, a wise man whom I don't recall the name, posted what is still my favorite post. I don't have it verbatim, but I'll try to post to the best of my recollection.

"With all this discussion about cracking and breaking the canopy in an emergency and which tool to use/carry for the most efficiency, why don't you fella's just carry a spare drill bit as a lot of you seem to have quite a bit of experience cracking canopy's with them?".

I may not have that word for word correct, but it is still my favorite forum post.

Jeffry - Jab 3300 TD

[Rynoth]

Jeffry... that made me lol.

:lol:

[tonyr]

"With all this discussion about cracking and breaking the canopy in an emergency and which tool to use/carry for the most efficiency, why don't you fella's just carry a spare drill bit as a lot of you seem to have quite a bit of experience cracking canopy's with them?".

Ha ha.. beat me to it Jeffery, and you only have to wave it at the canopy and egress is assured

Update:

Here is my version of the Canopy Breaker tool, ready to mount on the glareshield





(Tongue firmly in cheek)