# NTSB CEN23LA203: Nanchang CJ6, N443LM, Windsor, CO, May 25, 2023

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: May 25, 2023, 12:24 local (18:24 UTC)
- Place: Windsor, CO
- Coordinates: 40.453611, -104.95392 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.4536&lon=-104.9539&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Initial climb: Birdstrike](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/901)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: FAA Denver FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 192240
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN23LA203
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/192240/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=192240
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN23LA203

## Probable cause

An inflight collision with a bird while on initial climb.

## 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 · Ability to respond/compensate (probable cause); cases with it: [Nanchang China CJ-6, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022045/cases.md?model=05628VC), [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 · Effect on equipment (probable cause); cases with it: [Nanchang China CJ-6, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022045/cases.md?model=05628VC), [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.

- [Initial climb: Birdstrike](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/901) (defining event); cases with it: [Nanchang China CJ-6, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/901/sequence.md?model=05628VC), [All aircraft, 253 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/901/sequence.md)

## Analysis

While on initial climb, a bird impacted the leading edge of the vertical stabilizer. The leading edge of the stabilizer sustained substantial damage. The airplane was controllable, and the pilot executed an uneventful landing.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N443LM](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N443LM), registered now, S/N 3151214, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: NANCHANG CJ6 (A)
- Registry model: [Nanchang China CJ-6](https://openairdocs.org/model/nanchang-china-cj-6) (registry code 05628VC) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Housai HS6A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/housai-hs6a) (registry code 34201, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 3151214
- Year built: 1979
- Airframe hours: 3199.9
- Engines: Vedeneyev M14P reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Hayne Stephen C
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Condition, November 4, 2022
- Departed: FNL, Fort Collins, CO
- Airport: FNL
- Equipment: Stall warning system, Handheld GPS, Electronic primary flight display, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Auto-pilot, ADS-B, Angle of attack indicator

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 61; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: basicmed; last flight review June 28, 2022; seat: front; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 1,467 total, 295 in this make and model, 15 in the last 90 days, 3.5 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 110° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 52 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: KFNL, 3 nm away
- METAR: KFNL 251856Z 11010KT 10SM CLR 24/11 A3000 RMK AO2 SLP107 T02390111

## 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 20230525006889A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230525006889A), May 25, 2023: Nanchang CJC-6, Loveland, CO, Substantial damage. While on climb out from kfnl, [privacy data omitted] struck a bird, pilot requested an immediate return to airport, once landed it was discovered that the…

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 7, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=192240. 1.6 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 1.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15664628&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=N443LM%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Photos (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 254 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15664881&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array-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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