# NTSB CEN10CA209: True Flight Holdings AA-5B, N969SH, Muskegon, MI, April 19, 2010

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: April 19, 2010, 11:30 local (15:30 UTC)
- Place: Muskegon, MI
- Coordinates: 43.167778, -86.235557 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.1678&lon=-86.2356&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Birdstrike](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/901)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report August 12, 2010
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration
- NTSB case key (mKey): 75801
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN10CA209
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/75801/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=75801
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN10CA209

## Probable cause

The inadvertent in-flight collision with a goose.

## 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: [Grumman American Avn. AA-5B, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022045/cases.md?model=3960105), [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.

- [Enroute-cruise: Birdstrike](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/901) (defining event); cases with it: [Grumman American Avn. AA-5B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/901/sequence.md?model=3960105), [All aircraft, 253 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/901/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that he was in cruise flight at 2,500 feet above mean sea level and was flying with an airspeed of about 120 knots. He saw a goose pass from left to right just above the engine cowl. The airplane sustained substantial damage when the bird struck the right wing. He declared an emergency to an air traffic controller and diverted to an airport. He stated that the smell of fuel was present during the emergency landing and that he landed without further incident.

## Factual narrative

The pilot reported that he was in cruise at 2,500 feet above mean sea level and was flying with an airspeed of about 120 knots. He saw a goose pass from left to right just above the engine cowl. The airplane sustained substantial damage when the bird struck the right wing. He declared an emergency to an air traffic controller and diverted to an airport. He stated that the smell of fuel was present during the emergency landing and he landed without further incident.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N969SH](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N969SH), registered now, S/N AA5B-0418, built 1977 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: True Flight Holdings LLC AA-5B
- Registry model: [Grumman American Avn. AA-5B](https://openairdocs.org/model/grumman-american-avn-aa-5b) (registry code 3960105) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-360-A1D](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-360-a1d) (registry code 41504, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: AA5B-0418
- Airframe hours: 3100
- Engines: LYCOMING 0-360-A4K 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, October 15, 2009
- Departed: FFX, Freemont, MI
- Destination: 3GM, Grand Haven, MI
- Airport: MKG, Muskegon County Airport

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 68; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 3,210 total, 70 in this make and model, 2,820 as pilot in command, 8 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 330° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 54 °F, dew point 34 °F
- Altimeter: 30.26 inHg
- Observed at: MKG, 10 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 20100419034629A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100419034629A), Apr 19, 2010: Grumman Ame AA-5B, Muskegon, MI, Substantial damage. Pilot departed freemont, MI (ffx) and climbed to 2500 feet MSL. Shortly after establishing cruise flight a goose struck the right wing leading edge at the fuel…

## Docket (1 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 5, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=75801. 682 KB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 682 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40329042&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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