Virgin Australia AT72 at Albury on Feb 25th 2014, suspected bird strike
Last Update: June 10, 2014 / 14:02:55 GMT/Zulu time
Incident Facts
Date of incident
Feb 25, 2014
Classification
Accident
Airline
Virgin Australia
Flight number
XR-1174
Departure
Sydney, Australia
Destination
Albury, Australia
Aircraft Registration
VH-FVR
Aircraft Type
ATR ATR-72-200
ICAO Type Designator
AT72
Australia's Transportation Safety Board (ATSB) reported that the post flight examination revealed substantial damage to the tail assembly of the aircraft and included this new, second accident into the investigation concerning a turbulence accident five days earlier, see: Accident: Virgin Australia AT72 near Sydney on Feb 20th 2014, severe turbulence injures cabin crew.
The ATSB stated:
Investigation AO-2014-032 encompasses two accidents that occurred to the same aircraft, VH-FVR
Those accidents are:
- a turbulence event on 20/2/2014 (ATSB reference number 201400786)
and
- substantial damage detected on 25/2/2014 (ATSB reference number 201400985)
Both of these accidents are being considered as part of the ATSB's investigation. The ATSB is working with the operator and the aircraft manufacturer to understand the chain of events that led to the damage sustained by the aircraft.
On Jun 10th 2014 the ATSB released their preliminary brief stating, that examination of the aircraft did not find any evidence of a bird strike. The captain had observed birds to the left of the aircraft while on approach to Albury and suspected a bird strike despite the absence of usual indications, however, after landing while on the ground the pitch trim system had fluctuated abnormally. The captain performed a walk around and detected damage to the fairing at the top leading edge of the vertical stabilizer which might have been the result of a bird strike. The captain thus advised maintenance. A maintenance engineer was dispatched to examine the aircraft and confirmed the fairing had received damage that might have been the result of a bird strike and grounded the aircraft, the ATSB was informed of a bird strike.
The operator advised however that the damage might have been the result of the occurrence on Feb 20th 2014. On that basis the ATSB decided to include the investigation of the Albury event into the investigation of the Sydney event.
The ATSB reported: "The aircraft manufacturer inspected the aircraft and found broken carbon plies, cracked joint sealant, and deformation in and around the area where the horizontal stabiliser attaches to the vertical stabiliser (Figures 2 and 3). There was also some minor damage to the rudder. The damage was assessed as being consistent with an overstress condition. Subject to further assessment and non-destructive testing, the aircraft manufacturer recommended replacement of the horizontal stabiliser, elevators, and vertical stabiliser."
Incident Facts
Date of incident
Feb 25, 2014
Classification
Accident
Airline
Virgin Australia
Flight number
XR-1174
Departure
Sydney, Australia
Destination
Albury, Australia
Aircraft Registration
VH-FVR
Aircraft Type
ATR ATR-72-200
ICAO Type Designator
AT72
This article is published under license from Avherald.com. © of text by Avherald.com.
Article source
You can read 2 more free articles without a subscription.
Subscribe now and continue reading without any limits!
Read unlimited articles and receive our daily update briefing. Gain better insights into what is happening in commercial aviation safety.
Send tip
Support AeroInside by sending a small tip amount.
Related articles
Virgin Australia AT72 at Albury on Oct 19th 2019, near collision with private aircraft on final approach
A Virgin Australia Airlines Avions de Transport Regional ATR-72-212A, registration VH-FVR performing flight VA-1174 from Sydney,NS to Albury,NS…
Virgin Australia AT72 near Sydney on Feb 20th 2014, control disagreement causing excessive G-forces injures cabin crew and pitch controls disconnect
On May 24th 2019 the ATSB released their final report concluding the probable causes of the accident were:Contributing factors- During the descent,…
SkyWest Airlines AT72 at Moranbah on May 16th 2013, multiple GPWS alerts while descending to remain clear of cloud
A SkyWest Airlines (Australia) Avion de Transport Regional ATR-72-212A on behalf of Virgin Australia Regional, registration VH-FVR performing flight…
Virgin Australia B738 at Sydney on Mar 10th 2023, hard touch down at 3G
A Virgin Australia Boeing 737-800, registration VH-YQR performing flight VA-916 from Brisbane,QL to Sydney,NS (Australia) with 179 passengers and 6…
Virgin Australia B738 at Cairns on Oct 24th 2022, descended below minimum safe height
A Virgin Australia Boeing 737-800, registration VH-VUT performing flight VA-793 from Brisbane,QL to Cairns,QL (Australia), was on a RNAV HENDY 8A…
Virgin Australia B738 at Sydney on Oct 19th 2022, verbal slip in clearance
A Virgin Australia Boeing 737-800, registration VH-YFT performing flight VA-942 from Brisbane,QL to Sydney,NS (Australia), reached the top of descent…
Virgin Australia B738 at Coolangatta on Jan 24th 2023, long landing
A Virgin Australia Boeing 737-800, registration VH-YQM performing flight VA-539 from Sydney,NS to Coolangatta,QL (Australia), landed on Coolangatta's…
Virgin Australia B738 at Perth on Jan 11th 2023, flaps problem
A Virgin Australia Boeing 737-800, registration VH-YIQ performing flight VA-469 from Perth,WA to Brisbane,QL (Australia), was climbing out of Perth's…
Newest articles
Canada B38M at Vancouver on Mar 17th 2024, both autopilots failed
An Air Canada Boeing 737-800, registration C-GEHY performing flight AC-970 from Vancouver,BC (Canada) to Puerto Vallarta (Mexico) with 168 people on…
Austrian E195 at Vienna on Apr 15th 2024, lightning strike
An Austrian Airlines Embraer ERJ-195, registration OE-LWH performing flight OS-543 from Vienna (Austria) to Naples (Italy), was climbing out of…
Subscribe today
Are you researching aviation incidents? Get access to AeroInside Insights, unlimited read access and receive the daily newsletter.
Pick your plan and subscribePartner
A new way to document and demonstrate airworthiness compliance and aircraft value. Find out more.
ELITE Simulation Solutions is a leading global provider of Flight Simulation Training Devices, IFR training software as well as flight controls and related services. Find out more.
Your regulation partner, specialists in aviation safety and compliance; providing training, auditing, and consultancy services. Find out more.
AeroInside Blog
Popular aircraft
Airbus A320Boeing 737-800
Boeing 737-800 MAX
Popular airlines
American AirlinesUnited
Delta
Air Canada
Lufthansa
British Airways