# NTSB CEN13CA550: Piper PA-28-161, N526PU, Princeton, MN, September 13, 2013 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: September 13, 2013, 15:00 local (20:00 UTC) - Place: Princeton, MN - Coordinates: 45.560001, -93.608329 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.5600&lon=-93.6083&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering: Birdstrike](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/901) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 21, 2013 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA Minneapolis FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 88052 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN13CA550 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/88052/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=88052 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13CA550 ## Probable cause An in-flight collision with a bald eagle. ## 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: [Piper PA-28-161, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022045/cases.md?model=7102803), [All aircraft, 358 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022045/cases.md) - [Empennage structure: horizontal stabilizer](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035510): Aircraft › Aircraft structures · Damaged/degraded; cases with it: [Piper PA-28-161, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035510/cases.md?model=7102803), [All aircraft, 23 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035510/cases.md) - [Empennage structure: rudder](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035540): Aircraft › Aircraft structures · Damaged/degraded; cases with it: [Piper PA-28-161, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035540/cases.md?model=7102803), [All aircraft, 15 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035540/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering: Birdstrike](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/901) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-161, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/901/sequence.md?model=7102803), [All aircraft, 253 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/901/sequence.md) ## Analysis The flight instructor reported that the student pilot was flying S-turns over a road at 1,000 feet above ground level when a bald eagle struck the right horizontal stabilizer. The flight instructor took the controls, declared an emergency, and proceeded to land at the nearest airport. The control yoke was “buffeting,” but the engine continued to run smoothly. On final approach, the flight instructor noticed that the rudder controls were impaired; however, the wind was calm so the landing was without incident. The examination of the airplane revealed that there was a large indentation on the right horizontal stabilizer with bird feathers embedded in it. The right side of the horizontal stabilizer was canted. In addition, the tail cone had been pushed upward and was in contact with the rudder, impeding its movement. ## Factual narrative The flight instructor reported that the student pilot was flying S-turns over a road at 1,000 feet above ground level when a bald eagle struck the right horizontal stabilizer. The flight instructor took the controls, declared an emergency, and proceeded to land at the nearest airport. The control yoke was “buffeting,” but the engine continued to run smoothly. On final approach, the flight instructor noticed that the rudder controls were impaired; however, the wind was calm so the landing was without incident. The examination of the airplane revealed that there was a large indentation on the right horizontal stabilizer with bird feathers embedded in it. The right side of the horizontal stabilizer was canted. In addition, the tail cone had been pushed upward and was in contact with the rudder, impeding its movement. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N526PU](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N526PU), registered now, S/N 2841191 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-161 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-161](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-161) (registry code 7102803) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 2841191 - Airframe hours: 13891 - Engines: Lycoiming O-320 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Thunderbird Aviation - Registered owner: Metro Aircraft Co - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 13, 2013 - Departed: MIC, Crystal, MN - Destination: MIC, Crystal, MN - Airport: PNM, Princeton Municipal Airport - Equipment: Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 31; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review November 4, 2011; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 3,420 total, 2,000 in this make and model, 3,134 as pilot in command, 116 in the last 90 days, 55 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours - Student pilot; age 23; injuries: none; student; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 60 total, 60 in this make and model, 11 as pilot in command, 60 in the last 90 days, 36 in the last 30 days, 7 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 200° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 41 °F - Altimeter: 30.23 inHg - Observed at: PNM, 5 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 20130913016469A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130913016469A), Sep 13, 2013: Piper PA-28-161, Princeton, MN, Substantial damage. On an instructional flight after completing a manuever at approximately 1000 feet AGL, the right horizontal stabilizer was struck by a large bird, causing… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 25, 2013, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=88052. 4.9 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 601 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40401603&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Photo 1. Damage to the right horizontal stabilizer (item 2, .PDF, 2.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40401403&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201.%20Damage%20to%20the%20right%20horizontal%20stabilizer-Master.PDF - Photo 2. Damage to the empennage (item 3, .PDF, 1.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40401404&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202.%20Damage%20to%20the%20empennage-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.