Birdstrikes resulting in aircraft damage (including engine ingestions) present a significant hazard to aviation. In cases where a birdstrike results in aircraft airframe or engine damage, a considerable repair cost can also be involved. General aviation operations continue to have the highest proportion of damaging birdstrikes, with one quarter of all reported general aviation strikes between 2004 and 2013 resulting in damage (Figure ).
Figure : Proportion of birdstrikes resulting in damage in each operation type over the 2004-2013 period
Aircraft parts damaged from birdstrikes
Aeroplane wings and helicopter rotor blades are the most commonly damaged aircraft components across all operational types, particularly in general aviation, which had the highest number of strikes in which these parts were damaged (Table ). Wings may be the most common damaging strike location on fixed-wing aircraft as they present a large frontal surface area on an aircraft and aerodynamic effects may draw birds into a collision course, and in helicopters, because of the high rotational speed of the rotors. Engines were the most frequently damaged component in high capacity air transport aircraft (related to the large proportion of these strikes which result in a bird being ingested into the engine).
Table : Number of birdstrikes by part damaged and operation type over the 2004 -2014 period
Part damaged
|
High capacity air transport
|
Low capacity air transport
|
General Aviation
|
Military
|
Unknown
|
Total
|
Wing/Rotor
|
110
|
105
|
171
|
14
|
4
|
404
|
Engine
|
158
|
44
|
11
|
18
|
1
|
232
|
Nose
|
41
|
20
|
17
|
5
|
1
|
84
|
Propeller
|
20
|
28
|
23
|
0
|
6
|
77
|
Other
|
17
|
19
|
23
|
8
|
1
|
68
|
Windscreen
|
9
|
11
|
27
|
2
|
1
|
50
|
Landing Gear
|
22
|
12
|
8
|
2
|
2
|
46
|
Tail
|
16
|
9
|
18
|
2
|
0
|
45
|
Lights
|
20
|
8
|
7
|
0
|
3
|
38
|
Fuselage
|
12
|
9
|
10
|
4
|
0
|
35
|
Birdstrike with Eagle
In December 2013, while cruising at 1,000 ft near Devonport, Tas., the Avid Mark IV aircraft struck an eagle which damaged the left flaperon. The pilot was able to turn the aircraft using the rudder and returned to Devonport for a successful landing.
Damage caused by strike with an eagle. Source ATSB
Birdstrikes resulting in serious damage
There were 12 birdstrike occurrences from 2004 to 2013 that resulted in serious damage8 to the aircraft. Eleven of these occurred in general aviation flying, while one was in low capacity air transport operations. Six of the 12 occurrences involved helicopters.
There were two birdstrikes occurrences resulting in substantial aircraft damage between the two years 2012 - 2013. One of these involved a birdstrike (Australian Brush-turkey) followed by an animal strike (bull). As it was the latter that caused the substantial damage, this case will be discussed in chapter 8. Non-flying animal strikes. The second occurrence, in which the aircraft was destroyed is summarised below:
RPA Birdstrike with Eagle
In January 2013, a Gatewing X100 remotely piloted aircraft (RPA) was being used for aerial survey work south of Perth, WA. During the cruise, the aircraft struck an Eagle resulting in it losing stability and colliding with terrain. The aircraft was destroyed.
An example of the Gatewing RPA system on its launch rail. Source Wiki Commons
Recent international birdstrikes resulting in serious damage
Outside of Australia, there have been numerous examples of birdstrikes involving large birds, sometimes multiple large birds, resulting in serious damage to aircraft. The 2009 ditching into the Hudson River, US, of an Airbus A320 following a double engine failure after striking multiple Canadian geese has been documented in a previous ATSB Australian aviation wildlife strike statistics report (AR-2009-064).
More recently on 31 July 2012, a Boeing 737-900 on descent to Denver, US, struck a single bird at 5,500 above the airport. Feather and DNA analysis identified it as a white-faced ibis, a bird with an average weight of 0.6 kg. Following the impact, noise in the flight deck increased markedly, making communication with air traffic control (ATC) and between the pilots difficult. The autopilot and autothrottle both disengaged and the airspeed indicator and vertical speed indicator on the captain’s side of the flight deck became inoperative, requiring the captain to use stand-by instruments. An emergency was declared. Due to confusing instrument readings, power settings relative to aircraft configuration along with ATC communications about the aircraft’s observed ground speed were used to make the approach, resulting in an uneventful landing. Damage to the aircraft included a large hole in the radome, a bent left-side pitot head with a piece of broken radome lodged on it, and a dent to the leading edge of the vertical stabiliser.9
Damage to a Boeing 737-900 following a birdstrike on descent to Denver, US. Source: NTSB
6.3 Personal injuries resulting from birdstrikes
Injuries from birdstrikes have occurred mainly due to the bird penetrating the aircraft windscreen. However, some injuries have occurred due to some form of loss of control following the birdstrike. Sometimes, this is through emergency actions such as a forced landing that may have been required after a birdstrike to another part of the aircraft, such as the tail rotor (in helicopters) or the leading edge of the wing (in aeroplanes), where critical damage prevented safe and effective control of the aircraft.
Ten of the reported birdstrike occurrences between 2004 and 2013 resulted in injury, three of which were during 2012 and 2013. Eight occurred in general aviation, while two occurred during low capacity air transport operations. In all cases, the injuries received as a consequence of the birdstrike were minor.
One of the three occurrences in 2012-2013 resulting in injuries was the same wildlife strike occurrence mentioned previously involving a birdstrike followed by a collision with a bull, and is not included in this section. The remaining two occurrences are summarised below:
Cessna 210 Birdstrike with Kite penetrating windshield
During approach to land at Ramingining Aerodrome, NT, a bird (kite) was sighted approximately 200 m from the aircraft. The pilot attempted to manoeuvre but the bird struck the windshield of the Cessna 210, penetrating the windshield and hitting the pilot in the face. The pilot received minor abrasions but was able to continue the landing without further incident
(8 June 2012).
Cessna 152 Strike with Flying fox during night circuits
While conducting night circuits at Port Macquarie Aerodrome, NSW, the aircraft struck a flying fox which penetrated the windscreen. The crew suffered minor injuries and the aircraft sustained minor damage (18 July 2012).
The result of an impact with a Flying fox, showing where the animal penetrated the windshield of the Cessna 152. Source: ATSB
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