# NTSB CEN14CA095: Cessna 182N, N491CC, Paradis, LA, December 29, 2013

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: December 29, 2013, 14:10 local (20:10 UTC)
- Place: Paradis, LA
- Coordinates: 29.78861, -90.409164 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.7886&lon=-90.4092&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 October 9, 2014
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Central Region
- NTSB case key (mKey): 88604
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN14CA095
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/88604/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=88604
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN14CA095

## Probable cause

The collision with a bird which resulted in substantial damage to the airplane.

## 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: [Cessna 182N, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022045/cases.md?model=2072730), [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: [Cessna 182N, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/901/sequence.md?model=2072730), [All aircraft, 253 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/901/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot was flying over a bayou canal when a large bird contacted the leading edge of the right wing. He stated he immediately felt a vibration in the control yoke, and had to apply left aileron and left rudder to keep the airplane from rolling to the right. The pilot assessed the aircraft's control capability and decided to return to his departure airport. As he approached the airport, the pilot extended 10 degrees of flaps and slowed the airspeed to 120 mph, still applying left aileron and rudder. While on final approach, as the airspeed reached 90 to 100 mph, the right wing dropped and the airplane rolled between 45 and 90 degrees to the right. The pilot added full power, retracted the flaps, and applied full left aileron and left rudder. The airplane descended to an altitude of 100 feet before the pilot was able to level the wings and begin a climb. The pilot decided to land at the larger nearby airport so that he would have a longer runway and could land at a higher than normal airspeed. The pilot landed the airplane without further incident. A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed the airplane sustained substantial damage to the leading edge of the right wing.

## Factual narrative

The pilot was flying at 840 feet over a bayou canal when a large bird contacted the leading edge of the right wing. The pilot stated he thought the bird was possibly either an eagle or a vulture. He stated he immediately felt a vibration in the control yoke, and had to apply left aileron and left rudder to keep the airplane from rolling to the right. The pilot assessed the aircraft's control capability and decided to return to the St. Charles Airport (LS40). The pilot contacted the air traffic control (ATC) at the nearby New Orleans International Airport (MSY) and requested that there be emergency vehicles standing by at LS40 when he landed. As he approached the airport, the pilot extended 10 degrees of flaps and slowed the airspeed to 120 mph, still applying left aileron and rudder. The pilot turned the airplane to final approach and the continued to decrease the airspeed to land. As the airspeed reached 90 to 100 mph, the right wing dropped and the airplane rolled between 45 and 90 degrees to the right. The pilot added full power, retracted the flaps, and applied full left aileron and left rudder. The airplane descended to an altitude of 100 feet before the pilot was able to level the wings and begin a climb. The pilot realized he needed to keep the airspeed above 120 mph to maintain control of the airplane so he contacted the ATC tower at MSY and requested to land there so that he would have a longer runway and could land at a higher than normal airspeed. The pilot landed the airplane at MSY without further incident. A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed the airplane sustained substantial damage to the leading edge of the right wing.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N491CC](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N491CC), registered now, S/N 18260654, built 1971 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 182N (N)
- Registry model: [Cessna 182N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-182n) (registry code 2072730) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 18260654
- Year built: 1971
- Airframe hours: 4396.8
- Engines: CONT MOTOR O-470 230 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Fire: Unknown
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Will R. DuFrene, Jr.
- Registered owner: Will R. DuFrene, Jr.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, December 1, 2013, 7 hours before
- Departed: LS40, AMA, LA
- Destination: MSY, Bayou Gauche, LA
- Airport: MSY, Louis Armstrong New Orleans In, runway 01, 7,001 × 150 ft, concrete

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 50; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 1,587.3 total, 103.5 in this make and model, 1,567.3 as pilot in command, 10 in the last 90 days, 1.2 in the last 30 days, 0.6 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 340° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 25,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 59 °F, dew point 43 °F
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observed at: MSY, 17 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).

- [Incident 20131229024429I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20131229024429I), Dec 29, 2013: Cessna 182N, Bayou Gauche, LA, Substantial damage. Aircraft departed LS40 and ascended to 1000 ft for part 91 flight. As the pilot was descending from 1000 ft he saw a large black bird dive down and strike the…

## Other investigations on N491CC (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 FTW76DRA44](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW76DRA44), May 28, 1976: Cessna 182 (N491CC), Houston, TX, substantial damage

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 29, 2014, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=88604. 3.6 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 3.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40408576&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF
- Record of Conversation (item 2, .PDF, 56 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40408585&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation-Redacted.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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