Duo Discus lands hard after its canopy opens on final approach
A Duo Discus landed heavily short of the runway when its canopy sprang open on final; the pilot was slightly hurt, the glider badly damaged. Returning solo from a thermal flight, he turned final high, opened full airbrakes and sideslipped to lose height; during the slip the right-hinged canopy sprang open. Reaching to shut it, he could not grasp the frame, and with his eyes on the canopy the glider sank fast. The flare came too late: the left wing caught a field ~450 m short of the threshold, and the glider slewed round, dropping back. No latch defect was found; the maker canopy service note — recommended, not mandatory — was not carried out.
- High on final, sideslipping: A solo Duo Discus returned from a thermal flight and turned onto final a little high, fully extending the airbrakes and sideslipping to lose height.
- Canopy springs open in the slip: During the left sideslip the right-hinged canopy suddenly opened; no defect was later found in the latch mechanism.
- Distracted, approach neglected: Reaching to pull the canopy shut, the pilot could not grasp the frame and, his eyes off the approach, let the glider sink fast to a few metres.
- Reflex flare, too late: A reflex pull to flare came too late as the glider descended to just above the ground short of the runway.
- Wing strike, backward impact: The left wing caught a grain field about 450 m short of the threshold; the glider yawed nearly 180 degrees and dropped backwards, badly damaged, the pilot slightly hurt.