# NTSB CEN10IA053: Airbus A319-111, N924FR, Kansas City, MO, November 15, 2009 - Type: NTSB incident investigation - Classification: Incident · No injuries · Incident investigation · Final report - Date: November 14, 2009, 18:00 local (Nov 15, 2009, 00:00 UTC) - Place: Kansas City, MO - Coordinates: 39.297779, -94.71389 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.2978&lon=-94.7139&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-climb to cruise: Birdstrike](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/901) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 130 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 23, 2010 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA Flight Standards District Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 75064 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN10IA053 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/75064/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=75064 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN10IA053 ## Probable cause The in-flight engine ingestion of one or more Lesser Snow Geese (Chen caerulescens caerulescens). ## 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: [Airbus A319-111, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022045/cases.md?model=3940000), [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-climb to cruise: Birdstrike](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/901) (defining event); cases with it: [Airbus A319-111, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/901/sequence.md?model=3940000), [All aircraft, 253 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/901/sequence.md) - [Enroute-climb to cruise: Powerplant sys/comp malf/fail](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/340); cases with it: [Airbus A319-111, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/340/sequence.md?model=3940000), [All aircraft, 820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/340/sequence.md) ## Analysis The airplane struck a flock of birds shortly after takeoff as it was climbing through 4,260 feet at 252 knots. The right engine spooled down to flight idle. When the crew attempted to advance the throttle, there were a series of compressor stalls. Passengers said they saw fireballs being ejected from the engine. The crew declared an emergency, returned to the airport, and landed uneventfully. The bird remains were identified as Lesser Snow Goose (Chen caerulescens caerulescens) with an average weight of 5.3 pounds. ## Factual narrative On November 14, 2009, approximately 1800 central standard time, an Airbus A319-111, N924FR, operated by Frontier Airlines as flight 820, struck a flock of birds shortly after taking off from runway 1R at Kansas City International Airport (MCI), Kansas City, Missouri. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the incident. The scheduled domestic passenger flight was being conducted under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 121, and an IFR (flight rules) flight plan had been filed and activated. There were no injuries to the 5 crew members, 120 passengers, and 5 non-revenue passengers. The flight had just originated from MCI, and was en route to Denver International Airport (DEN), Denver, Colorado. The crew said they thought they had struck 6 or 7 geese. The event was captured at 0104:29 UTC (Universal Time Coordinated) on ACARS (Aircraft Communications Addressing and Reporting System) data as the airplane was climbing through 4,260 feet at 252 knots (see attachment to this report). The right engine spooled down to flight idle. When the crew attempted to advance the throttle, there were a series of compressor stalls. Passengers said they saw fireballs being ejected from the engine. The crew declared an emergency and returned to MCI. Inspection disclosed damage to both engine inlet cowlings, but boroscope examination revealed only the right engine, a General Electric CFM56-5B5P, had sustained internal damage. Bird remains were recovered from the right engine and sent to the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, DC. The remains were identified as Lesser Snow Goose (Chen caerulescens caerulescens). The average weight of the bird is 5.3 pounds. The number of birds ingested and the sex were not given (see letter attached to this report). ## Aircraft - Registration: [N924FR](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N924FR-2016-04-28), registration cancelled 2016-04-28, S/N 2030, built 2003 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AIRBUS A319-111 - Registry model: [Airbus A319-111](https://openairdocs.org/model/airbus-a319-111) (registry code 3940000) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [CFM International CFM56 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/cfm-international-cfm56-series) (registry code 13802, turbo-fan) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 2030 - Engines: CFM 56 turbo fan - Damage: Minor damage - Flight: Part 121 - Operator: Frontier Airlines - Registered owner: AFS Investments XXII LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport - Departed: MCI, Kansas City, MO - Destination: DEN, Denver, CO - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: MCI, Kansas City International ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark - Wind: 180° at 13 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 20,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 54 °F - Altimeter: 29.62 inHg - Observed at: MCI ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Incident 20091114051349I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20091114051349I), Nov 14, 2009: Airbus A319-111, Kansas City, MO, Minor damage. Departed kmci gate 0050Z. Utilized runway 1R. Weather was approximately 2500 overcast with good visibility. First officer matthew cartwright was pilot flying.… ## Other investigations on N924FR (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 DEN07IA027](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN07IA027), Oct 23, 2006: Airbus Industrie A319-111 (N924FR), Denver, CO, incident, no damage. Probable cause: The inadvertent activation of the priority pushbutton on the sidestick by the first officer resulting in a nose down pitch and loss of aircraft control during the landing flare. ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 6, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=75064. 848 KB in all. - NTSB Form 6120.1-2, PilotOperator Incident Report (item 1, .PDF, 718 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40323591&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=NTSB%20Form%206120.1-2,%20PilotOperator%20Incident%20Report-Redacted.PDF - ACARS Data (item 2, .PDF, 55 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40323594&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=ACARS%20Data-Master.PDF - Letter from the Smithsonian Institute (item 3, .PDF, 32 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40323592&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Letter%20from%20the%20Smithsonian%20Institute-Redacted.PDF - Weather Reports and Records (item 4, .PDF, 43 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40322099&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Reports%20and%20Records-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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.