20211012017039I

Incident · Minor damage

FAA incident report · Airbus Helicopters AS350B3 · San Diego, CA · October 12, 2021

Date
October 12, 2021 · 19:25 local
Place
San Diego, CA
Airport
San Diego International
Phase of flight
Cruise/Level Flight
Operating rules
General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage
Minor damage
Aircraft
N881SD
Reported as
Airbus Helicopters AS350B3
Reported engine
SAFRAN ARRIEL-2D
People aboard
2
Fatal injuries
0
Other injuries
0
Pilot’s certificate
Commercial pilot
Pilot’s flight hours
3,100 total

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.

On 10-12-2021 at approximately 1925

Hours(local). N881SD was on a patrol flight approximately 2.5NM north of a 5.5NM final into ksan (San Diego, California). N881SD was approximately 1500' MSL (1,000' above ground) at approximately 85 KTS and in a westerly direction when it experienced a loud bang noise accompanied by increased wind and noise inside the cabin. The pilot scanned the aircraft instruments and ensured proper aircraft control effectiveness. No faults were noted. N881SD then departed the ksan airspace and flew directly to kmyf. Upon inspection after landing a seagull was found impailed in the nose section of the helicopter. Also the left rear passenger window was broken with evidence of a second bird strike. No injuries were sustained.

As the FAA filed it

ON 10-12-2021 AT APPROXIMATELY 1925

HOURS(LOCAL). N881SD WAS ON A PATROL FLIGHT APPROXIMATELY 2.5NM NORTH OF A 5.5NM FINAL INTO KSAN (SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA). N881SD WAS APPROXIMATELY 1500' MSL (1,000' ABOVE GROUND) AT APPROXIMATELY 85 KTS AND IN A WESTERLY DIRECTION WHEN IT EXPERIENCED A LOUD BANG NOISE ACCOMPANIED BY INCREASED WIND AND NOISE INSIDE THE CABIN. THE PILOT SCANNED THE AIRCRAFT INSTRUMENTS AND ENSURED PROPER AIRCRAFT CONTROL EFFECTIVENESS. NO FAULTS WERE NOTED. N881SD THEN DEPARTED THE KSAN AIRSPACE AND FLEW DIRECTLY TO KMYF. UPON INSPECTION AFTER LANDING A SEAGULL WAS FOUND IMPAILED IN THE NOSE SECTION OF THE HELICOPTER. ALSO THE LEFT REAR PASSENGER WINDOW WAS BROKEN WITH EVIDENCE OF A SECOND BIRD STRIKE. NO INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED.