Event Details


Title:Birdstrike on approach, Boeing 727-233, November 20, 2001
Micro summary:This Boeing 727-233 collided with a flock of birds on approach, causing substantial damage.
Event Time:2001-11-20 at 0027 CST
File Name:2001-11-20-US.pdf
Publishing Agency:National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB)
Publishing Country:USA
Report number:MIA02LA023
Pages:5
Site of event:Memphis, TN
Departure:Colorado Springs Airport (City of Colorado Springs Municipal Airport), Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA
Destination:Memphis International Airport, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
Airplane Type(s):Boeing 727-233
Flight Phase:Approach
Registration(s):N277FE
Operator(s):Federal Express
Type of flight:Revenue
Occupants:5
Fatalities:
Serious Injuries:
Minor/Non-Injured:5
Other Injuries:0
Executive Summary:

NTSB short summary:

The inadvertent collision with birds while on final approach to land resulting in substantial damage to the airplane.

NTSB synopsis:

The flightcrew reported that while on final approach for runway 9 at Memphis, at between 1,700 and 2,000 feet agl, at 250 knots, they encountered a flock of large birds. A bird penetrated the airplane under the captains windshield and bird remains entered the cockpit. They continued to Memphis and landed without further incident. Inspection of the airplane by an FAA inspector after landing showed damage to the area below the captain's windshield and two areas of damage on the right inboard wing area, due to bird strikes. Radar data from the FAA, Memphis Air Route Traffic Control Center, showed the flight was at about position 35 degrees, 3 minutes, 34 seconds North latitude, and 90 degrees, 4 minutes, 59 seconds West longitude, or about 6 nautical miles west of Memphis International Airport, at the time of the encounter. The FAA, Memphis Approach Control, personnel stated that the Automatic Terminal Information Service, information Romeo was in effect at the time of the accident which contained the 2353 surface weather observation, and that there was no bird activity reported in this information. Examination of feathers recovered from the cockpit and wing area of the aircraft was performed by personnel at The Smithsonian Institute, Washington, D.C. The feathers were identified as coming from a Snow Goose, with an average weight for this species of 2,450 grams.

NTSB factual narrative text:

On November 20, 2001, about 0027 central standard time, a Boeing 727-233, N277FE, registered to and operated by Federal Express Corporation, as flight 2287, a 14 CFR Part 121 domestic cargo flight from Colorado Springs, Colorado, to Memphis, Tennessee, collided with a flock of birds while on approach to land at Memphis International Airport. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and an instrument flight rules flight plan was filed. The airplane received substantial damage, and the airline transport-rated captain, first officer, flight engineer, and two passengers were not injured. The flight originated from Colorado Springs, on November 19, 2001, at 2247.

The flightcrew reported that while on final approach for runway 9 at Memphis, at between 1,700 and 2,000 feet agl., at 250 knots, they encountered a flock of large birds. A bird penetrated the airplane under the captains windshield and bird remains entered the cockpit. They continued to Memphis and landed without further incident.

Inspection of the airplane by an FAA inspector after landing showed damage to the area below the captain's windshield and two areas of damage on the right inboard wing area, due to bird strikes.

Radar data from the FAA, Memphis Air Route Traffic Control Center, showed the flight was at about position 35 degrees, 3 minutes, 34 seconds North latitude, and 90 degrees, 4 minutes, 59 seconds West longitude, or about 6 nautical miles west of Memphis International Airport, at the time of the encounter. The FAA, Memphis Approach Control, personnel stated that the Automatic Terminal Information Service, information Romeo was in effect at the time of the accident which contained the 2353 surface weather observation, and that there was no bird activity reported in this information. (See attached Radar Data and Record of Telephone Conversation.)

Examination of feathers recovered from the cockpit and wing area of the aircraft was performed by Carla Dove, Smithsonian Institute, Washington, D.C. The feathers were identified as coming from Snow Goose (Chen caerulescens), with an average weight for this species of 2,450 grams. (See attached email from Carla Dove.)
Learning Keywords:Operations - Birdstrike
Consequence - Damage - Airframe or fuselage
Close match:Birdstrike on takeoff, Accident of aircraft BOEING B-737, registration PH-BTC, at Barcelona Airport (Spain), on 28 November 2004
Birdstrike on B757-200, N34131, at Shannon Airport, 20 May 2005
Birdstrike on takeoff roll, Boeing 737-73V, G-EZJX
Birdstrike and engine failure on takeoff, Boeing 767-336, G-BNWM
Uncontained engine failure, Overseas National Airways, Inc., Douglas DC-10-30, N1032F, John F. Kennedy International Airport, Jamaica, New York, November 12, 1975
Birdstrike on takeoff involving a Boeing 757-200 at Vancouver, British Columbia on August 27, 2004
Birdstrike, Bombardier DHC-8-102, October 6, 1999
Collision with Double-Crested Cormorants, Boeing 767, Boston, October 19, 2002
Birdstrike, Boeing 727-25C, May 7, 1998
Birdstrike, McDonnell Douglas DC-9-82, September 16, 2004
Birdstrike, Boeing 737-300, August 21, 1997
Birdstrike causing engine damage on a Boeing 737-300 at Portland, November 2, 1995
Birdstrike on approach, Airbus A320, EI-DEA, Cork Airport, October 11, 2005
Birdstrike, Boeing 747-400, YR-HUK, April 12, 1997

 




Accident Reports on DVD, Copyright © 2006 by Flight Simulation Systems, LLC.  All Rights Reserved.
 All referenced trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
www.fss.aero