Colour Plates

Plate 1 — On September 22, 1995 a 4-engine USAF E-3B AWACS crashed 43 seconds after takeoff from Elmendorf AFB, Alaska. The aircraft struck a large flock of Canada Geese that had often been observed in the area.

Plate 2 — Canada Geese on the runway shortly after the September 22 AWACS crash. Twenty-four crew members died in the crash.

Plate 3 — This accident involving a Cessna 441 Conquest at Fort Frances, Ontario, was the result of a gull being ingested in the intake of the #1 turboprop engine.

 

Plate 4 — Uncontained engine failure on a Falcon 10 business jet resulting from a bird strike.

Plate 5 — An impact with a Western Grebe (3 lbs) caused considerable damage to this helicopter. The bird struck the pilot in the face. (See Plates 6 and 7)

 

Plate 6 — The impact force of this incident was so severe that after striking the windshield and pilot, the bird damaged the hinges on one rear door.

Plate 7 — The helmet and face-shield probably saved the life of the pilot when he was struck in the face by windshield and bird debris.

 

Plate 8 — This is all that remains of a $200 million USAF B1-B bomber that crashed after striking an American White Pelican in Colorado. The airplane weighed 185,000 lbs, the bird 15 lbs. Three crew members died in the crash.

Plate 9 — After striking a gull on takeoff from JKF International Airport on November 12, 1975, the #3 engine on this ONA DC-10-30 exploded and caused the aircraft to burn out. The 139 passengers, who were all airline employees, safely evacuated the aircraft.

 

Plate 10 — The #1 engine on this KLM B-747 suffered an uncontained failure as a result of a collision with Canada Geese while landing at Calgary International Airport. Leading edge devices were also damaged.

Plate 11 — The windshield on this B737 was severely damaged as a result of a collision with a bird at 10,000 ft. ASL and 250 kts. The captain was injured from debris when the bird penetrated the fuselage above the windshield.

 

Plate 12 — Severe damage to airframe components and leading edge devices is common in bird strike events. When penetrated to the spar, electrical and hydraulic systems can be affected.

Plate 13 — This RCAF CT-114 Tutor crashed during a training mission over Assiniboia on September 25,1997 after colliding with a single bird. Both crew members ejected safely.

 

Plate 14 — When large animals are allowed access to aircraft movement areas, a high risk situation always results.

Plate 15

Plates 15 and 16 show damage to a small jet engine resulting from impact with a 3 lb Turkey Vulture.

Phase of flight: takeoff

Speed: 140 kts.

The remaining engine was also damaged, but not from striking a bird. It reached an overspeed condition during recovery from the aircraft roll and the fan contacted the shroud throughout the circumference.

Plate 16 — Damage to the engine included:

• Loss of nose cone
• Severence of nose cone shaft
• Loss of 10 fan blades
• Fan case damage and flange separation
• Inner shroud damage
• Sheared splines in fan hub
• Fractured fuel pump/fuel control mount flange

 

Plate 17 — Thirty-four people died in the bird-strike related crash of this C-130H at Eindhoven AFB, Holland on July 15, 1996.