# Accident 20211122018529A: Leonardo Spa AW169, Austin, TX, November 22, 2021

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: November 22, 2021, 14:25 local time
- Place: Austin, TX
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: Air taxi and commuter (Part 135)
- Operator: LEUA
- Location: 30.2614° N, 97.6501° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.2614&lon=-97.6501&mi=10
- Aircraft: N307TC, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N307TC) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Leonardo AW169 (registry code 33601QC, https://openairdocs.org/model/leonardo-aw169) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Pratt & Whitney Canada PW210A (registry code 51950, https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-canada-pw210a) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: LEONARDO SPA AW169
- Reported engine: P&W CANADA PW210A
- People aboard: 5
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 4,150 total
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN22LA057](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN22LA057) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20211122018529A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

STAR FLIGHT 1 (N307TC) ON 22 NOV 21 WHILE TRANSPORTING A PATIENT, A TURKEY VULTURE IMPACTED THE AIRCRAFT IN FLIGHT. PIC CONDUCTED A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING AT TE94, WHICH WAS APPROXIMATELY A MINUTE AWAY FROM WHERE THE IMPACT OCCURRED. SF1 WAS RETURNING TO AUSTIN WITH A PATIENT ON BOARD WHEN A BLACK VULTURE APPEARED IN FRONT OF THE AIRCRAFT AND IMPACTED WITHIN IN A MATTER OF SECONDS FROM FIRST SIGHT. THE MEDICAL CREWMEMBER SITTING IN THE FRONT LEFT COCKPIT SEAT, WAS THE FIRST TO SEE THE BIRD AND ANNOUNCED ITS PRESENCE. THE VULTURE WAS FIRST SEEN ASCENDING FROM THE LOWER LEFT FIELD OF VIEW, IT MAINTAINED ITS CURRENT TRACK. IT LOOKED AS THOUGH IT WAS GOING TO IMPACT DIRECTLY IN THE MIDDLE OF THE RIGHT FRONT WINDSHIELD. AS SOON AS PIC SAW THE VULTURE, HE MANEUVERED THE AIRCRAFT TO THE LEFT AND STARTED TO DESCEND IN AN ATTEMPT TO AVOID THE VULTURE OR MINIMIZE THE SEVERITY OF THE IMPACT LOCATION ON THE AIRCRAFT. SEEMINGLY, WITHIN A COUPLE OF SECONDS AFTER MANEUVERING THE BIRD IMPACTED THE AIRCRAFT.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB CEN22LA057](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN22LA057), Nov 22, 2021: Leonardo AW169 (N307TC), Austin, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: The helicopter’s impact with a bird during cruise flight.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft 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. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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