Time and time again, we can only urge our fellow flyers to check things out VERY carefully whenever maintenance is performed on their aircraft. Careful preflights need to be even MORE carefully conducted. Even then, "stuff" still happens, as the fine folks at Air Combat USA (who run a GREAT program) recently found out for themselves.

NTSB Identification: LAX05LA266
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Thursday, August 11, 2005 in Redding, CA
Aircraft: Agusta SPA F.260D, registration: N402FD
Injuries: 1 Uninjured.

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 August 11, 2005, about 1259 Pacific daylight time, an Agusta SPA, F.260D, N402FD, experienced the separation of its canopy during descent for landing at the Redding Municipal Airport, Redding, California. The airplane was substantially damaged, and the commercial pilot was not injured. The airplane was owned and operated by Air Combat USA, Inc., Fullerton, California. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the work-related flight, and no flight plan was filed. The flight was performed under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91, and it originated from Fullerton about 1000.

The pilot reported to the National Transportation Safety Board investigator that between 8 and 10 miles from Redding the entire canopy separated from the airplane. Also, the helmet he was wearing came off his head, and baggage exited the airplane. The pilot was unable to contact the Redding tower, so he changed to the emergency transponder code. Thereafter, he received a green light signal from the tower and landed without further mishap.

The pilot indicated that he had not experienced any malfunction with the canopy's operation when he initiated the flight. The pilot stated that when the canopy separated its latch was in the closed position.

Company personnel reported to the Safety Board investigator that their search for the separated canopy was unsuccessful. An examination of the airplane revealed that the leading edge of the left horizontal stabilizer was crushed inward over approximately a 1 foot-long span. Also, the leading edge of the vertical stabilizer was similarly crushed in an aft direction. This was the first flight following the company's reinstallation of the canopy.

FMI: www.ntsb.gov, www.aircombatusa.com