20120312003059A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Diamond Aircraft Ind DA 42 · New Smyrna, FL · March 12, 2012

Date: March 12, 2012 · 05:25 local
Place: New Smyrna, FL
Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
Operating rules: Pilot school (Part 141)
Operator: NX4S
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N915ER
NTSB investigation: NTSBERA12CA236
Reported as: Diamond Aircraft Ind DA 42
Reported engine: Lycoming IO-360-MIA+
People aboard: 2
Fatal injuries: 0
Other injuries: 0

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

Monday 3/12/12, aircraft N915ER suffered a bird strike. The aircraft was approximately 1.5 miles south of New Smyrna at an altitude of 1600 feet with auto pilot engaged. The bird impact the right wing resulting in substantial damage to the composite leading edge and front main spar.

As the FAA filed it

MONDAY 3/12/12, AIRCRAFT N915ER SUFFERED A BIRD STRIKE. THE AIRCRAFT WAS APPROXIMATELY 1.5 MILES SOUTH OF NEW SMYRNA AT AN ALTITUDE OF 1600 FEET WITH AUTO PILOT ENGAGED. THE BIRD IMPACT THE RIGHT WING RESULTING IN SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE COMPOSITE LEADING EDGE AND FRONT MAIN SPAR.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB ERA12CA236Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportNew Smyrna, FLAn inadvertent encounter with a bird during cruise flight.Mar 12, 2012 · Substantial damage