I've read lots of comments on this, but most seem to be like putting one's head in the sand.  If something is likely to kill, something should be done.  At least three fatalities is far, far too many to write off as just a few pilots who couldn't handle a "tricky" situation.  And to think that there must be some sort of build defficiency doesn't make sense either - the important features of the aircraft are almost identical - pin locations and canopy shapes.  And this is not the way to find out that you "just weren't meant to be a pilot."  And to say, "just remember to latch it" just doesn't cut it.  A secondary latch copied from millions of car's hood latches should do the job.  As for "so easy it's not worth discussing" I've yet to read hundreds of comments from those that have had it happen.  Hoping that Darwin's theory has already weeded out the "bad" pilots is just plain unrealistic.  I know, believing that you are better than those others has a degree of satisfaction associated with it, but does it make sense?  Something needs to be done - I'm really surprised the NTSB hasn't gotten into the act.  Sooner or later they will, unless the owners do something first.  No, I'm not directly affected, as I drive an ES - which, by the way, has it's own door-opening issues, but not proven to be in the same realm.

Gary Casey

From: Mark Sletten <mwsletten@gmail.com>


I strongly suspect the reason we don't hear about incidents where an open
canopy didn't interfere with controllability is because it's not really an
event worth discussing, plus there's an element of embarrassment.

"Hey guys, I forgot to close my canopy before take-off and had to come back
to land before I could finish my trip."

Don't really hear too many stories about people forgetting to turn on the
transponder either.

"Hey guys, I forgot turn on the transponder before takeoff. ATC reminded
me, so I turned it on."

--Mark