# NTSB CEN22LA057: Leonardo AW169, N307TC, Austin, TX, November 22, 2021

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: November 22, 2021, 14:34 local (20:34 UTC)
- Place: Austin, TX
- Coordinates: 30.261367, -97.650147
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.2614&lon=-97.6501&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Enroute: Birdstrike](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/901)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 6 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: FAA
- NTSB case key (mKey): 104335
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN22LA057
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/104335/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104335
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN22LA057

## Probable cause

The helicopter’s impact with a bird during cruise flight.

## 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: [Leonardo AW169, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022045/cases.md?model=33601QC), [All aircraft, 358 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022045/cases.md)
- [Object/animal/substance: animal(s)/bird(s)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022045): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Ability to respond/compensate (probable cause); cases with it: [Leonardo AW169, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022045/cases.md?model=33601QC), [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: Birdstrike](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/901) (defining event); cases with it: [Leonardo AW169, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/901/sequence.md?model=33601QC), [All aircraft, 253 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/901/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot of the medical helicopter reported that, while transporting a patient, the medical crewmember seated in the front left seat identified the bird and announced its presence to the pilot. The pilot attempted to turn and descend to avoid impact, but the bird struck the helicopter’s windshield, windshield support beam, and greenhouse window, which resulted in substantial damage to the windshield support beam. The pilot diverted the helicopter to a nearby helipad and landed without further incident.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N307TC](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N307TC), registered now, S/N 69081, built 2019 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: LEONARDO SPA AW169
- Registry model: [Leonardo AW169](https://openairdocs.org/model/leonardo-aw169) (registry code 33601QC) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney Canada PW210A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-canada-pw210a) (registry code 51950, turbo-shaft) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 69081
- Year built: 2019
- Airframe hours: 640
- Engines: Pratt & Whitney PW210A 850 horsepower turbo shaft; Pratt & Whitney PW210A 850 horsepower turbo shaft
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Business, Part 135
- Operator: County Of Travis
- Registered owner: County Of Travis
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport
- Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, February 11, 2022
- Departed: PVT, Bastrop, TX
- Destination: TE94, Austin, TX
- Flight plan: Company VFR
- Airport: TE94
- Equipment: Auto-pilot, Data recorder, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Electronic multifunction display, Electronic primary flight display, Onboard weather, Satellite tracking device, Video recording device, ADS-B

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 53; injuries: none; commercial; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review November 16, 2021; seat: right; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 4,150 total, 125 in this make and model, 2,500 as pilot in command, 11 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 350° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 32 °F
- Altimeter: 30.25 inHg
- Observed at: KAUS, 5 nm away
- METAR: METAR KAUS 222053Z 35011KT 10SM SCT300 21/00 A3025 RMK AO2 SLP241 T02060000 56026=


## 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 20211122018529A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20211122018529A), Nov 22, 2021: Leonardo Spa AW169, Austin, TX, Substantial damage. Star flight 1 (N307TC) on 22 nov 21 while transporting a patient, a turkey vulture impacted the aircraft in flight. PIC conducted a precautionary landing at…

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 19, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104335. 1.2 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 835 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13647577&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Photo of damage (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 348 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13646907&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photos-Rel.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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