eesh Wrote:
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> The plane crash was just a freak accident,
Like these:
http://wcco.com/local/plane.crash.geese.2.695566.html
http://articles.latimes.com/1996-01-12/news/mn-23924_1_runway-geese
3 December 1993. A Cessna 550 struck a flock of geese during initial climb out of DuPage County Airport (IL). Pilot heard a loud bang and aircraft yawed to left and right. Instruments showed loss of power to #2 engine and a substantial fuel leak on the left side. An emergency was declared and the aircraft landed at Midway Airport. Cost to repair 2 engines was $800,000 and time out of service was about 3 months.
3 June 1995. An Air France Concorde, at about 10 feet AGL while landing at John F. Kennedy International Airport (NY), ingested 1 or 2 Canada geese into the #3 engine. The engine suffered an uncontained failure. Shrapnel from the #3 engine destroyed the #4 engine and cut several hydraulic lines and control cables. The pilot was able to land the plane safely but the runway was closed for several hours. Damage to the Concorde was estimated at over $7 million. The French Aviation Authority sued the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey and eventually settled out of court for $5.3 million.
9 January 1998. While climbing through 3,000 feet, following takeoff from Houston Intercontinental Airport (TX), a Boeing-727 struck a flock of snow geese with 3-5 birds ingested into 1 engine. The engine lost all power and was destroyed. The radome was torn from aircraft and leading edges of both wings were damaged. The pitot tube for first officer was torn off. Intense vibration was experienced in airframe and noise level in cockpit increased to point that communication among crewmembers became difficult. An emergency was declared. The flight returned safely to Houston with major damage to aircraft.
04 September 2003. A Fokker 100 struck a flock of at least 5 Canada geese over runway shortly after takeoff at LaGuardia Airport (NY), ingesting 1 or 2 geese into #2 engine. Engine vibration occurred. Pilot was unable to shut engine down with the fuel cutoff lever so fire handle was pulled and engine finally shut down, but vibration continued. The flight was diverted to nearby JFK International Airport where a landing was made. The NTSB found a 20- by 36-inch wide depression on right side of nose behind radome. Maximum depth was 4 inches. Impact marks on right wing. A fan blade separated from the disk and penetrated the fuselage. Several fan blades were deformed. Holes were found in the engine cowling. Remains were recovered and identified by Wildlife Services.
3 August 2006. A Cessna Citation 560 departing a General Aviation airport in Indiana hit Canada geese on the take-off run. Left engine ingested birds causing an uncontained failure. Aircraft went off the runway during the aborted takeoff. Top cowling and fan were replaced. ID by the Smithsonian, Division of Birds. Aircraft was out of service for 13 days and costs were estimated at $750,000.
23 October 2007. A Piper 44 flying at 3,400 feet AGL disappeared during a night training flight from Minneapolis, MN to Grand Forks, ND. The instructor and student pilot did not report any difficulties or anomalies prior to the accident. Wreckage was found 36 hours later, partially submerged upside down in a bog. The NTSB sent part of a wing with suspected bird remains inside to the Smithsonian. Remains identified as Canada goose. The damage that crippled the aircraft was to the left horizontal stabilator. NTSB investigated. Two fatalities.
27 November 2007. A CRJ-200 descending into Memphis International Airport (TN) encountered a flock of large birds, sustaining ingestion into both engines, a cracked nose panel, damage to the right wing root and left horizontal stabilizer, and left engine anti-ice cowling. Bird remains were subsequently identified as snow geese. Maintenance made temporary repairs before aircraft could be flown for more permanent repairs.