scope:

Description of Driving Event:

On 10-15-90 the T-38 Aircraft (N511NA) belonging to LaRC was on a local training flight. At the time of rotation, the rear canopy separated from the aircraft, damaging both the canopy and the vertical stabilizer. The pilot made an uneventful landing. The canopy loss was most probably caused by the failure of the external handle force input to complete latching of the canopy hooks. There is also strong circumstantial evidence that the canopy latching mechanism contains a design deficiency. JSC has fathered two T-38 canopy locking modifications. One modifies the outer access door for the external canopy handle and was on N511NA at the time of the canopy failure. The other modification includes a warning horn which sounds if either canopy switch indicates an unlatch and the throttle is moved past 96%. This modification was not on N511NA at the time of canopy failure.