Small Aircraft
Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Commercial; Flight Crew Instrument
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 100; Flight Crew Total 5500; Flight Crew Type 400
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical
Air Traffic Control Provided Assistance; Flight Crew Requested ATC Assistance / Clarification; Flight Crew Landed in Emergency Condition; Flight Crew Returned To Departure Airport
Aircraft
Day VFR conditions. Approximately 45F; Winds 310@10.  Start and taxi were normal. Crew closed and locked canopies in the chocks at start up due to cold wind. After an uneventful run-up crew performed a normal Verbal and Visual confirmation 'Two canopies down and locked; Lights Out.'  Aircraft is equipped with canopy lights (Front and center on this aircraft panel on their own and extinguished at that time). Rear crewmember also did two elbow taps outward to confirm a good locked canopy as he always does per his habit. Performed a normal takeoff.After airborne and about midfield over the left Runway; PIC noted a loud bang; rush of wind; and a red light illuminate for rear canopy. Aircraft configuration was left in T/O configuration and PIC continued straight ahead to assess status of rear aircrew (whose headset came off).  Requested a 'low closed pattern' for an early return; Tower approved that and asked if we needed assistance and I said 'standby.'  During low closed pattern; visually checked the aircraft and observed missing rear canopy plexiglass section and no obvious damage. Advised Tower that there would be 'canopy plexiglass' in the vicinity of the left Runway. Requested and was cleared to land on the right Runway. Flew final at 85 to 90 kts until landing assured due to unknown airflow effects.  After clearing runway; another visual check was performed and no damage was observed.  Recommend owners of Romanian IR23 Aircraft consider installing additional pins to hold these custom built canopies shut.
IR23 pilot reported that a section of the aircraft's plexiglass canopy detached while departing the runway. An air return and uneventful landing were made.