LAX From United States of America, joined Dec 2000, 2290 posts, RR: 3 Posted (10 years 4 months 1 week 3 days 8 hours ago) and read 1912 times:
This aviation incident struck me as humorous.
I didn't realize the new Dash 8 aircraft had those retro open-air flight decks! .......
>> "AS377, a Dash 8-400 inbound to Medford, experienced multiple birdstrikes as it was on final approach to Medford on Wednesday (08Jan). The Captain sustained head and facial injuries and was taken to a hospital."
It would appear from this that the pilot was doing his Slim Pickens impression....and decided to take her in while strapped to the fuselage! Most curious.
Flyf15 From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 1, posted (10 years 4 months 1 week 3 days 8 hours ago) and read 1904 times:
Uhhhhh, that statement that you quoted would generally imply the birds penetrated (broke) the windsheild and the bird/glass hit the pilot moving at great speed. Injuries would be similar to those in a high speed car accident without an airbag. Not a good thing.
LAX From United States of America, joined Dec 2000, 2290 posts, RR: 3 Reply 3, posted (10 years 4 months 1 week 3 days 7 hours ago) and read 1868 times:
No, just that snippet.
Guess I shouldn't have found it humorous, since injuries resulted.
But I just couldn't figure out how birdstrikes to an aircraft could result in the pilot being hospitalized.
I've never heard of a bird/birds actually SMASHING a flight-deck windscreen!
Q400 From Canada, joined Sep 2001, 79 posts, RR: 0 Reply 4, posted (10 years 4 months 1 week 3 days 7 hours ago) and read 1861 times:
There was minor injury to the pilot from shattered glass (I believe). He was taken to the hospital and was later released. It doesn't seem like the whole bird penetrated through the windshield, however, there were some blood mark at the top left corner of the windshield looking from inside the aircraft.
Backfire From Germany, joined Oct 2006, 0 posts, RR: 0 Reply 5, posted (10 years 4 months 1 week 3 days 5 hours ago) and read 1824 times:
I've seen several reports of birds actually penetrating aircraft windscreens - might even have a couple of pictures.
There's a classic story about a woman travelling in a small aircraft which suffered a penetrative birdstrike. She was holding a baby at the time, and thought that the baby had blown up in her arms because there was a sudden bang and blood all over the cockpit interior.
T prop From United States of America, joined Apr 2001, 995 posts, RR: 1 Reply 6, posted (10 years 4 months 1 week 3 days 4 hours ago) and read 1801 times:
Indian_flyboy From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 7, posted (10 years 4 months 1 week 3 days 4 hours ago) and read 1794 times:
Hi Guys ,
I am quoting this incident which happened to my dad when he was flying Do 228's . He was on an Instrument check and his side of the windscreen was blacked out . His check pilot was busy going over the flight manuals and his head was down . They were flying at about 6000 ft at that time . All of a sudden the front of the aircraft just disintegrated and glas flying everywhere around and as my dad puts it the cockpit just started stinking . The cause an adult vulture had gone through the windscreen and right through . Of course an emergency was declared and they landed safely . Dad had a cut arm and his check pilot had cuts on his face and arm . After they landed , they found the vulture carcass had gone right to the end of the aircraft and smashed the toilet doors as well . Well the aircraft had to be repaired and disinfected . Dad's uniform needed to be retired pretty soon . The smell just wont go .
What we gotta realize is that an aircraft like the Do 228 which flies at about 400 km/hr if it smashes into a 30 kilo vulture the momentum would be enough to shatter the windscreen . Birdstrikes can happen to any aircraft , more likely the unpressurized props because they fly at lower altitudes . Most of the hits are also caused by Vultures and their like or geese . Both these species tend to fly at really high altitudes. Condors have been spotted as high at 15,000 ft and unfortunately they do not contact the ATC for clearances
Tbonecapalbo From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 10, posted (10 years 4 months 1 week 3 days ago) and read 1681 times:
This is not a unique incident. Birds penetrated the windshield of a Southwest 737 on approach to Tampa a couple of years back. Here's the link to the NTSB entry:
Bsergonomics From United Kingdom, joined Jan 2002, 462 posts, RR: 0 Reply 11, posted (10 years 4 months 1 week 2 days 22 hours ago) and read 1620 times:
Hmm. Birdstrikes. These can be nasty. Very nasty indeed. When we design an aircraft, we take this into account and there are specific tests for the canopy and forward structures to ensure that most birdstrikes do not penetrate the fuselage. However, high-flying geese, vultures and other large birds still present a hazard.
About 10 years ago a BA (?) 747 flying from the Americas to the UK hit a canada goose at altitude (and high speed). It penetrated the windscreen and, although it missed the pilots, the resulting rapid decompression sucked the captain out through the resulting hole. The first officer (who had been strapped in at the time) managed to grab his legs but couldn't pull him back in again. The flight continued to the nearest airfield, with the first officer flying and the chief stewardess holding onto the captain's legs. He survived, but with hypothermia and windburn.
If you look at a military flying helmet, you will see that it has two visors. One is tinted and the other is clear. You always keep the clear visor down, specifically in case you have a bird strike. I have seen several helmets that have been hit by birds coming through the windscreen and they make an incredible mess. I saw one that hit a bird at about 650 kts. That was one very dead bird!
================
A couple of design/test anecdotes for you. I regret to say that I cannot confirm that these are not apocryphal, but they still make good after dinner anecdotes!
1. Back in the 80's in the UK, they tried (and failed) to develop an advanced train (called the Advanced Passenger Train (ATP), funnily enough) that could travel down the normal tracks at about 150mph. The bigwigs decided that it travelled fast enough to warrant being tested for bird strikes. So they borrowed the bird strike machine from Rolls Royce aero engines, and set up the test. In front of an audience of top railway brass, they fired the bird and it went straight through the front of the train and wrecked the first carriage. During the investigation as to why it failed the test, it was found that the primary cause was that they had used a chicken as the test bird, but it was still frozen at the time of the test! Frozen chicken at 250 mph... hmm.
2. Westland Helicopters were performing a bird strike test on the Super Lynx. They had set up the test rig and put in the bird when the whistle went for lunch. When they returned from lunch, they fired the machine. The resulting 'Splat' didn't sound normal, so they inspected the impact area. Funnily enough, the canopy was covered in blood and feathers and fur and other remains. One of the engineers pointed out that the last time they had seen a furry chicken was in a student's fridge. So they traced back and worked out that, while they were at lunch, one of the local cats had smelt the bird and was having a wonderful free lunch right up to the point when it was fired into a helicopter at 250 mph! I can't tell you if the Super Lynx is now certified not only for birdstrikes, but for cat strikes as well...
The definition of a 'Pessimist': an Optimist with experience...
Sponsor Message: 
From United States of America, joined Dec 2000, 2290 posts, 
.......
From , joined Dec 1969, posts, 
From Canada, joined Sep 2001, 79 posts, 
From Germany, joined Oct 2006, 0 posts, 
From , joined Dec 1969, posts, 
From United Kingdom, joined Jan 2002, 462 posts, 
Printer friendly format 
