KLM B773 at Accra on Sep 3rd 2021, rejected takeoff due to bird strike

Last Update: March 30, 2022 / 18:46:59 GMT/Zulu time

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Incident Facts

Date of incident
Sep 3, 2021

Classification
Incident

Cause
Rejected takeoff due to bird strike

Airline
KLM

Flight number
KL-590

Departure
Accra, Ghana

Destination
Amsterdam, Netherlands

Aircraft Registration
PH-BVK

Aircraft Type
Boeing 777-300

ICAO Type Designator
B773

A KLM Boeing 777-300, registration PH-BVK performing flight KL-590 from Accra (Ghana) to Amsterdam (Netherlands), was accelerating for takeoff from Accra's runway 03 when the crew rejected takeoff at high speed (about 145 knots over ground) due to a bird strike at about 22:39L (22:39Z). The aircraft slowed safely, vacated the runway at the end and became disabled on the parallel taxiway due to a number of tyres deflating. The aircraft was towed to the apron about 30 minutes after becoming disabled on the taxiway.

The airport reported the aircraft rejected takeoff from runway 21 due to a bird strike near the windshield. The aircraft was subsequently towed to the apron. The passengers disembarked and were taken to various hotels.

ADS-B data transmitted by the transponder of the aircraft make clear the aircraft was accelerating for takeoff from runway 03 and rejected takeoff at about 145 knots over ground.

Passengers reported they were told one of the engines (GE90) ingested a bird prompting the takeoff to be rejected. The right hand main tyres deflated during taxiing back to the apron.

Ghana's AIB have opened an investigation into the occurrence.

The aircraft remained on the ground in Accra for about 27:15 hours, then departed as flight KL-590D and reached Amsterdam with a delay of 27.5 hours about 2 hours after the regular flight KL-590 of Sep 4th 2021 (performed by PH-BVA).

On Dec 21st 2021 the Dutch Onderzoeksrrad/Safety Board (DSB) reported the aircraft rejected takeoff as result of a bird strike, two tyres were punctured, two more tyres deflated due to wear. The DSB provided assistance to Ghana's AIB.

Ghana's AIB released their final report concluding the probable causes of the incident were:

The causal factors include:

1. The loud impact noise of the bird strike.
2. The uncertainty about the aircraft’s ability to fly safely.

The contributing factors include:

1. Season.
2. The time of the flight.
3. Nocturnal feeding habits of the bird.

The AIB analysed:

During the take-off roll of flight KL 590 on the 3rd of September 2021, the crew heard a loud impact noise due to a bird strike and initiated an RTO as a result of the Captain’s uncertainty of the aircraft’s safety for flight. “Bird remains” cleaned by the KLM Maintenance engineers from the area underneath the Captain’s number 2 window is proof that the subject aircraft was struck by a bird(s).

This is confirmed by the “bird remains” picked up from the runway after the RTO and the Captain’s report of the observation of birds before the incident occurred.

...

It is evident that the African Wattled Lapwing (Vanellus Senegallus) was involved in the incident. The Lapwing is widespread in sub-Saharan Africa and commonly feeds at night.

Records also indicate that the bird remains found after the incident on the runway were that of the African Wattled Lapwing. These birds are resident while breeding, but might move over distances during the rainy season.
Aircraft Registration Data
Registration mark
PH-BVK
Country of Registration
Netherlands
Date of Registration
Egqpjjembjee Subscribe to unlock
Airworthyness Category
Fidbqci Subscribe to unlock
Legal Basis
Mihf Subscribe to unlock
Manufacturer
The Boeing Company
Aircraft Model / Type
777-300ER
ICAO Aircraft Type
B77W
Year of Manufacture
DhgA Subscribe to unlock
Serial Number
Gkeid Subscribe to unlock
Aircraft Address / Mode S Code (HEX)
Imlehd Subscribe to unlock
Maximum Take off Mass (MTOM) [kg]
M eAp Subscribe to unlock
Engine Count
H Subscribe to unlock
Engine
Qiq hnbliA pqbq jilqffAgkcghb Subscribe to unlock
Engine Type
Ikblmjib Subscribe to unlock
Incident Facts

Date of incident
Sep 3, 2021

Classification
Incident

Cause
Rejected takeoff due to bird strike

Airline
KLM

Flight number
KL-590

Departure
Accra, Ghana

Destination
Amsterdam, Netherlands

Aircraft Registration
PH-BVK

Aircraft Type
Boeing 777-300

ICAO Type Designator
B773

This article is published under license from Avherald.com. © of text by Avherald.com.
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