# NTSB CEN09CA418: Cessna 550, N73HH, Sellersburg, IN, June 5, 2009

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: June 5, 2009, 16:30 local (20:30 UTC)
- Place: Sellersburg, IN
- Coordinates: 38.351387, -85.733886 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.3514&lon=-85.7339&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Initial climb: Birdstrike](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/901)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report September 10, 2009
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: FAA-Cincinnati FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 74222
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN09CA418
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/74222/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74222
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09CA418

## Probable cause

An in-flight collision with a large bird during the airplane's initial climb.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Object/animal/substance: animal(s)/bird(s)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022045): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on equipment (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 358 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022045/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Initial climb: Birdstrike](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/901) (defining event); cases with it: [All aircraft, 253 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/901/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot stated that a large bird struck the nose of the airplane during its initial climb. The flight was about 1 mile north of the airport, 1,000 feet above ground level, at the time. The pilot elected to continue the approximately 20-minute flight to the intended destination, and the flight was completed without further incident. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. A postaccident examination revealed impact damage to the nosecone and underlying airframe support structure.

## Factual narrative

The pilot stated that a large bird struck the nose of the airplane during initial climb after takeoff. The flight was about 1 mile north of the airport, 1,000 feet above ground level, at the time. The pilot elected to continue the approximate 20-minute flight to the intended destination, and the flight was completed without further incident. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. A post accident examination revealed impact damage to the nose cone and underlying airframe support structure.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N73HH (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 550
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 550-0682
- Airframe hours: 3095
- Engines: P&W CANADA JT15D-4 turbo fan; P&W CANADA JT15D-4 turbo fan
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Executive/Corporate, Part 91
- Operator: M & L Airways Inc
- Registered owner: M & L Airways Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, December 1, 2008
- Departed: JVY, Sellersburg, IN
- Destination: PMH, Portsmouth, OH
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: JVY, Clark Regional, runway 36, 5,500 × 100 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 56; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review May 1, 2009; seat: left; flight hours: 14,450 total, 1,550 in this make and model, 14,039 as pilot in command, 85 in the last 90 days, 30 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 86 °F
- Observed at: JVY, 1 nm away

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 20090605857199A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090605857199A), Jun 5, 2009: Cessna 550, Sellersburg, IN, Substantial damage. The pilot stated that a large bird struck the nose of the airplane on its initial climb. Pilot had just raised landing gear and estimated the aircraft was…

## Docket (1 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 24, 2009, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74222. 1.1 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40316137&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF

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.

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