Twin Astir lands short while the pilot tries to close a reopened canopy on final

While trying to close a canopy that had reopened on final, a pilot on a currency circuit at Frýdlant landed short; he was unhurt, but the Grob G 103 Twin Astir was substantially damaged. The front canopy had first come open just before the turn to final, and he closed it, most probably without locking it properly. When it opened again, his attention went to it and he could not fully control the glider, which touched down in grass about 65 m short of RWY 26; the left wing caught the vegetation and the glider swung round. In a test on the same type, the locking rod could butt against a lock eye and spring pressure alone did not push it home.

1. Aerotowed currency circuits: The pilot was aerotowed from Frýdlant at 12:05 behind a Z-226MS for the third flight of a series of currency circuits.
2. Front canopy opens before final: Just before the turn to final the front canopy came open. The pilot managed to close it, most probably without locking it properly.
3. Canopy opens again on final: On final for RWY 26 the canopy opened again. He tried to close it and, with his attention on it, could not fully control the glider in the last part of the approach.
4. Short touchdown, wing in grass: At 12:13 the glider touched down in grass about 65 m short of the threshold, outside the airfield. The left wing caught the vegetation; the glider swung round about 180° and slid on tail first.