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Bird strike bends 182

By NTSB · December 4, 2015 ·

The pilot was flying over a bayou canal near Paradis, La., when a large bird hit the leading edge of the Cessna 182’s right wing.

He immediately felt a vibration in the control yoke, and had to apply left aileron and left rudder to keep the plane from rolling to the right.

He assessed the aircraft’s control capability and decided to return to his departure airport.

As he approached the airport, he extended 10° of flaps and slowed the airspeed to 120 mph, still applying left aileron and rudder.

While on final approach, as the airspeed reached 90 to 100 mph, the right wing dropped and the airplane rolled between 45° and 90° to the right. He added full power, retracted the flaps, and applied full left aileron and left rudder.

The airplane descended to an altitude of 100 feet before he was able to level the wings and begin a climb.

He decided to land at the larger nearby airport so that he would have a longer runway and could land at a higher than normal airspeed.

A post-accident examination revealed the airplane sustained substantial damage to the leading edge of the right wing.

The NTSB determined the probable cause as a collision with a bird, which resulted in substantial damage to the airplane.

NTSB Identification: CEN14CA095

This December 2013 accident report is provided by the National Transportation Safety Board. Published as an educational tool, it is intended to help pilots learn from the misfortunes of others.

About NTSB

The National Transportation Safety Board is an independent federal agency charged by Congress with investigating every civil aviation accident in the United States and significant events in the other modes of transportation, including railroad, transit, highway, marine, pipeline, and commercial space. It determines the probable causes of accidents and issues safety recommendations aimed at preventing future occurrences.

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Comments

  1. John Wesley says

    December 4, 2015 at 6:10 am

    It is time to put a stop to this senseless carnage, We must get the FAA and Homeland Security involved and maybe even congress.

    We have to find out if these birds are simply operating in a careless and reckless manner, with no regard for regulations and safe operating procedures, or are they in reality homegrown terrorists bent on Jihad.

    Why is there no comment from the government, why is no one speaking out against these monsters sharing our airspace,

    This has to stop, something is not right here.

    • jay says

      December 4, 2015 at 6:44 am

      I agree. This is something that must be taken care of.
      I think the government is covering up something. The internet told me they have a secret program involving kamikaze birds to end general aviation as we know it.

      • crae hancock says

        December 7, 2015 at 7:11 am

        Subtle humor, I’m sure it was a drone disguised as a bird

        • John Wesley says

          December 7, 2015 at 7:15 am

          I might be mistaken, but I am fairly certain, that the hawk that flew along side me yesterday on takeoff, was wearing a Turban

      • Tom says

        December 7, 2015 at 7:13 am

        I think my dog is involved. She’s six-months old and tried to kill me last week by winding her leash around my legs while I was walking her. I ended up planting myself face-first on my driveway.

        She’s a Portuguese Water Dog, like the Obamas own. I’m a Conservative. Coincidence? I think not.

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