NTSB Factual Report

On May 29, 2013, about 2000 eastern standard time, an Evektor-Aerotechnik AS Sportstar Plus light-sport airplane, N319SV, sustained substantial damage during an aborted takeoff at the Lorain County Regional Airport (KLPR), Lorain, Ohio. The sport pilot was not injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by a private individual under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which operated without a flight plan. The local area flight originated approximately 1900.

According to the pilot, during initial takeoff climb after performing a touch-and-go landing on runway 25, the airplane's canopy opened to the forward position. The pilot landed the aircraft on the remaining runway; however, the airplane departed the end of the runway, struck a landing threshold light, and came to rest upright. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the forward fuselage, engine firewall and left wing spar.

Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the canopy latch spring (part number E1 93-06 21) had failed. In addition, the spring mounting plate used to hold the spring in position did not have a relief area machined into the plate that was required for the correct operation of the spring.

A review of the maintenance records showed that on October 11, 2011, at a total airframe time of 1,352.6 hours, a new canopy latch spring, canopy lock assembly, lock handle, and ring were installed. The most recent condition inspection was completed on February 15, 2013, at a total airframe time of 1,363.5 hours. At the time of the accident, the airframe had accumulated 1,384 total hours.

NTSB Probable Cause

The failure of the canopy latch spring, which caused the canopy to open during initial climb. Contributing to the accident was the installation of an improper part in the canopy latch assembly, which led to the failure of the canopy latch spring.