ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 177508
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| Date: | Thursday 2 July 2015 |
| Time: | 12:45 |
| Type: |  Piper PA-38-112 Tomahawk |
| Owner/operator: | NPA Aviation operated for Merseyflight Ltd |
| Registration: | G-RVNB |
| MSN: | 38-79A0260 |
| Year of manufacture: | 1978 |
| Engine model: | Lycoming O-235-L2C |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 2 |
| Aircraft damage: | Minor |
| Location: | Liverpool John Lennon Airport, Speke, Liverpool -
 United Kingdom
|
| Phase: | Approach |
| Nature: | Training |
| Departure airport: | LIverpool John Lennon Airport (EGGP) |
| LIverpool John Lennon Airport (EGGP) | |
| Investigating agency: | AAIB |
| Confidence Rating: |  Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
Aircraft collided with a flock of racing pigeons on a final approach to runway 27, with an instructor and student on board. According to the emergency transmission, the aircraft sustained damage and no occupants were injured. The aircraft was assisted by an ambulance and a fire engine after landing. ATIS reported increased bird activity within the aerodrome boundaries at the time of the incident.
According to the following summary from the official AAIB report into the accident:
"The aircraft was on a circuit training flight with a student pilot in the left seat and flying instructor in the right. The instructor was aware of the elevated risk of bird strike in the summer at Liverpool, and had turned the window heat on, intending to improve the windscreen’s resistance to impact.
On a flap less final approach to Runway 27, at around 80-90 Knots IAS and approximately 650 feet aal, the instructor suddenly saw a small flock of grey pigeons against the grey sky to the right of the nose, close by and flying into the aircraft’s path. Before he could react, the aircraft struck four or five birds.
One bird struck the windscreen, which did not break, but another broke the right side window, causing bruising to the instructor’s shoulder. The approach continued to a flap less landing, and the aircraft vacated the runway. Post-flight inspection found bird strike evidence in the engine bay and on the cowlings and wing".
Damage sustained to airframe: Per the AAIB report "Damage to cowling and right side window". G-RVNB was repaired and returned to service. It was formally sold by the owners at the time of this accident, Nigel Parker t/a NPA Aviation, to Merseyflight Ltd with effect from 28-1-2016 and re-registered the same day as G-SUKI - its former identity between 22-5-1991 and 2-6-2006.
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
1. AAIB: https://assets.digital.cabinet-office.gov.uk/media/56f16af4ed915d117a000022/Piper_PA-38-112_Tomahawk_G-RVNB_04-16.pdf
2. CAA: https://siteapps.caa.co.uk/g-info/rk=RVNB
3, Overheard on Liverpool Tower and witnessed from ground level.
4. https://www.merseyflight.co.uk/gallery/
5. http://derbosoft.proboards.com/post/40398
6. https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/pigeon-crashes-through-window-light-11273631
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 02-Jul-2015 16:11 | Anon. | Added |
| 02-Jul-2015 16:46 | Geno | Updated [Source] |
| 03-Jul-2015 07:00 | wbmac | Updated [Operator, Source, Damage] |
| 03-Jul-2015 07:00 | harro | Updated [Aircraft type, Registration] |
| 04-Jul-2015 12:01 | Anon. | Updated [Narrative] |
| 06-Jul-2015 01:20 | Dr. John Smith | Updated [Time, Aircraft type, Registration, Cn, Location, Departure airport, Destination airport, Source, Embed code, Narrative] |
| 20-Oct-2015 15:11 | Nigel Parker | Updated [Registration, Embed code, Narrative] |
| 14-Apr-2016 17:58 | Dr.John Smith | Updated [Registration, Cn, Operator, Location, Source, Narrative] |
| 24-May-2016 18:19 | Dr.John Smith | Updated [Destination airport, Source] |
Corrections or additions? ... Edit this accident description
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