# Accident 20220522008189A: Mx Aircraft LLC MXS, Bealeton, VA, May 22, 2022

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 22, 2022, 14:50 local time
- Place: Bealeton, VA
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Maneuver
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 38.5830° N, 77.7678° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.5830&lon=-77.7678&mi=10
- Aircraft: N104MX, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N104MX) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: MX MXS (registry code 05630G7, https://openairdocs.org/model/mx-mxs) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming AEIO-540 series (registry code 41568, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-aeio-540-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MX AIRCRAFT LLC MXS
- Reported engine: LYCOMING AEIO-540 SER
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Airline transport
- Pilot flight hours: 5,373 total
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA22LA238](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA22LA238) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220522008189A

## Narrative

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

INVESTIGATION. N104MX IS AN AEROBATIC AIRPLANE BASED AT WARRENTON MUNICIPAL AIRPORT (KHWY). THE AIRPLANE WAS BEING OPERATED IN THE CONDUCT OF AN AEROBATIC ROUTINE AT THE FLYING CIRCUS AERODROME (3VA3), ON THE AFTERNOON OF MAY 22, 2022, AS PART OF THE WEEKLY FLYING CIRCUS AIR SHOW. THE PILOT IS AN ATP CERTIFICATED PILOT WITH ASEL COMMERCIAL PRIVILEGES WITH NO HISTORY OF ACCIDENTS, NONCOMPLIANCE OR ENFORCEMENT AND WHO WAS PROPERLY CERTIFICATED, QUALIFIED AND CURRENT FOR THE FLIGHT. THE FLIGHT WAS PROPERLY OPERATED WITHIN THE LIMITATIONS AND WAIVERS APPROVED FOR THE AIRSHOW. DURING A HIGH SPEED LOW PASS WHILE MANEUVERING, THE PLANE STRUCK A LARGE BIRD, BELIEVED TO BE A TURKEY VULTURE. THE BIRD WAS PREVIOUSLY NOT OBSERVED BY THE PILOT UNTIL IT WAS STRUCK. THE PILOT IMMEDIATELY DISCONTINUED THE ROUTINE, IN ACCORDANCE WITH SHOW PROTOCOL, NOTIFIED THE AIR BOSS ACCORDINGLY, DETERMINED THAT THE AIRPLANE REMAINED CONTROLLABLE AND RETURNED TO HIS HOME BASE WHICH WAS THE CLOSEST SUITABLE AIRPORT FOR OPERATIONS. THE IIC WAS NOTIFIED THE MORNING OF MONDAY, MAY 23, 2022. THE BIRD STRIKE WAS CLASSIFIED AS AN INCIDENT PENDING EVALUATION OF THE DAMAGE BY AN AW ASI. AW ASI WAS ASSIGNED MAY 24, 2022 AND EVALUATED PHOTOS OF DAMAGE ON MAY 25, 2022. DAMAGE WAS DETERMINED TO BE SUBSTANTIAL, RESULTING IN RECLASSIFICATION AS AN ACCIDENT. IIC NOTIFIED FAA ROC AND NTSB UPON CLASSIFICATION AS AN ACCIDENT.

## 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 ERA22LA238](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA22LA238), May 22, 2022: MX MXS (N104MX), Bealeton, VA, substantial damage. Probable cause: An inflight collision with a bird while conducting low level aerobatics.

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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