Piedmont DH8A at Harrisburg on Aug 10th 2014, rejected takeoff due to bird strike
Last Update: March 10, 2018 / 16:55:19 GMT/Zulu time
Incident Facts
Date of incident
Aug 10, 2014
Classification
Incident
Airline
Piedmont Airlines
Flight number
PDT-4206
Departure
Harrisburg, United States
Destination
Philadelphia, United States
Aircraft Registration
N815EX
Aircraft Type
De Havilland Dash 8 (100)
ICAO Type Designator
DH8A
A replacement Dash 8-100 registration N814EX reached Phildelphia with a delay of 50 minutes.
The FAA reported: "US AIR EXPRESS FLIGHT 4206 DE HAVILLAND DH8A AIRCRAFT ON DEPARTURE, STRUCK A FLOCK OF GEESE AND SUSTAINED A BROKEN WINDSHIELD." The occurrence was rated an incident.
Photographic evidence shows the aircraft received damage to the right hand propeller and a passenger window adjacent to the right hand propeller as well as a dent in the fuselage skin and additional panels protecting the fuselage from ice separating from the propellers.
On Oct 28th 2017 (!), more than 3 years after the occurrence, the NTSB released a preliminary information stating they have opened an investigation into the occurrence rated an accident. A docket has not yet been opened.
On Mar 10th 2018 the NTSB released their brief final report (a docket was not opened) concluding the probable cause of the accident was:
the airplanes collision with geese during the takeoff roll.
The NTSB described the events:
The captain was the pilot flying and the first officer was the pilot monitoring. According to the flight crew, about 15 seconds into the takeoff roll and prior to V1, the captain observed a large group of geese flying from right to left in front of the airplane. He immediately initiated a rejected takeoff as the airplane impacted multiple geese on the front windshield and the right engine propeller, which caused a severe vibration. The flight crew shut down the right engine as the airplane slowed and returned to the gate.
Examination of the airplane indicated damage to the right propeller, a broken passenger window, and damage to the fuselage skin and stringers near the broken window.
Incident Facts
Date of incident
Aug 10, 2014
Classification
Incident
Airline
Piedmont Airlines
Flight number
PDT-4206
Departure
Harrisburg, United States
Destination
Philadelphia, United States
Aircraft Registration
N815EX
Aircraft Type
De Havilland Dash 8 (100)
ICAO Type Designator
DH8A
This article is published under license from Avherald.com. © of text by Avherald.com.
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