Repeat After Me -- Preflight, Preflight, Preflight...

An open canopy resulted in the loss of an Experimental Cozy... which started a series of events that ultimately lead to loss of engine thrust and injuries to persons on the ground after the aircraft was forced to dead-stick on to a busy highway. To those with canopies and other aircraft features that can affect the handling and performance of your aircraft... be sure to adhere, tightly, to a checklist to avoid such tragedies.

NTSB Identification: CEN10LA245
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Sunday, May 09, 2010 in Pine Bluff, AR
Aircraft: GROSS THOMAS HARRY COZY, registration: N144TJ
Injuries: 6 Minor.

This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed.

On May, 2010 at 1545 central daylight time, a Gross Thomas Harry Cozy III single-engine land airplane, N144TJ, was substantially damaged during an off-airport forced landing at Pine Bluff, Arkansas. The solo pilot sustained minor injuries and five persons on the ground sustained minor injuries. The airplane was owned and operated by the pilot. Visual meteorological conditions (VMC) prevailed at the time of the accident and a flight plan had not been filed for the Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 flight. The airplane had departed the Monroe Regional Airport (MLU) Monroe, Louisiana at approximately 1510, and was enroute to the Rochester International Airport (RST) Rochester, Minnesota.

Cozy -- File Photo

The airplane was in cruise flight at 4,500 feet mean sea level (MSL) when the right side hinged cockpit canopy suddenly opened and remained open at approximately a 90 degree up position. The pilot said his headset and several other loose items in the cockpit immediately departed the airplane. Some unknown debris flying out of the cockpit struck and damaged the propeller on the rear of the fuselage. Approximately half of one of the propeller blades separated and the pilot reported a “large vibration” in the engine. The pilot began an emergency descent and headed toward the nearest airport. Approximately four miles from the airport the engine failed. The pilot then executed an eastbound forced landing on a busy five lane road in the city limits. After missing several other vehicles, the airplane struck and damaged the rear of an eastbound automobile. The airplane then struck several sign posts and came to rest partially nose down in a ditch on the side of the road.

FMI: www.ntsb.gov/ntsb/brief.asp?ev_id=20100510X52853&key=1