Fatal accidents arising from bird strike to both civil and military aircraft are arranged in chronological order. Both fixed‐wing and rotary‐wing aircraft are considered. By fatal accidents, it is meant either some personnel aboard the aircraft are killed or seriously injured or the aircraft itself is severely damaged and cannot be repaired. The first fatal accident was on 3 April 1912, to Calbraith Rodgers. Fatalities in the First World War were not registered. Thus, accidents which were due to birds cannot be differentiated from those due to military actions. A list of fatalities due to bird strike during the Second World War is available and is almost complete. Survey of bird strike accidents since the 1950s until now for civil aircraft are discussed first, followed by military aircraft, and finally civil and military helicopters. The parts frequently impacted by birds and leading to fatal accidents were engines, windshield, fuselage, radome, headlights, and landing gear. The critical phase of flight in both civil and military aircraft are concerned with the proximity to the ground. Thus, takeoff, climb, approach, and landing are the most critical phases.

    Dangerous bird species causing repeated fatal accidents of airplanes and executive jets as well as small aircraft in the last 100 years are identified. For example, in Europe, gulls and diurnal raptors posit the greatest danger for both military and civil air traffic. Less dangerous species turn out to be swallows, swifts, pigeons, European starlings and northern lapwings, storks, herons, and vultures. The most tragic accidents are caused by gulls, European starlings, and northern lapwings. Northern America (the USA and Canada) have other dangerous bird species. Aircraft parts (modules) struck in fatal accidents are summarized. Details of numerous fatal accidents are described in detail.

    Russian accidents were also reviewed, based on the available data.

    Fatal accidents for military aircraft from 10 countries from the 1950s to 1990s were also described. Some fatal accidents encountered by military aircraft were chosen and described in detail. Full details for accidents encountered by aircraft of the Royal Norwegian Air Force aircraft during 2016 are given as an example of a European country. Statistics for the ex‐Soviet Union Air Force in East Germany are also reviewed.

    Statistics for bird strikes with helicopters (civilian and military) in the USA are also reviewed, giving the most critical flight phase, the critical time of day, frequently impacted parts, and a number of most critical bird strikes and damaging strikes for different categories of military helicopters during 1990–2011.

    Fatal accidents for helicopters in the period 1981–2014 are stated.


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    Title :

    Fatal Bird Strike Accidents


    Contributors:

    Published in:

    Publication date :

    2019-07-29


    Size :

    59 pages




    Type of media :

    Article/Chapter (Book)


    Type of material :

    Electronic Resource


    Language :

    English




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