# NTSB DCA14CA147: Dehavilland DHC 8 102, N815EX, Harrisburg, PA, August 10, 2014 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: August 10, 2014, 06:05 local (10:05 UTC) - Place: Harrisburg, PA - Coordinates: 40.193332, -76.762779 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.1933&lon=-76.7628&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff-rejected takeoff: Birdstrike](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/901) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 20 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 9, 2018 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Major Investigations Division - NTSB case key (mKey): 89887 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DCA14CA147 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/89887/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=89887 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA14CA147 ## Probable cause the airplanes collision with geese during the takeoff roll. ## 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: [Dehavilland DHC-8-102, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022045/cases.md?model=2809003), [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. - [Takeoff-rejected takeoff: Birdstrike](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/901) (defining event); cases with it: [Dehavilland DHC-8-102, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/901/sequence.md?model=2809003), [All aircraft, 253 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/901/sequence.md) ## Analysis On August 10, 2014 at about 0605 eastern daylight time, a deHavilland DHC-8-100, N815EX, operated by Piedmont Airlines d.b.a. USAirways Express flight 4206, struck a flock of geese during the takeoff roll from Middletown Harrisburg International Airport (KMDT), Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. There were no injuries to the passengers or crew and the airplane sustained damage. The flight was operating under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 121 as a regularly scheduled passenger flight between KMDT and Philadelphia International Airport (KPHL), Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The captain was the pilot flying and the first officer was the pilot monitoring. According to the flight crew, about 15 seconds into the takeoff roll and prior to V1, the captain observed a large group of geese flying from right to left in front of the airplane. He immediately initiated a rejected takeoff as the airplane impacted multiple geese on the front windshield and the right engine propeller, which caused a severe vibration. The flight crew shut down the right engine as the airplane slowed and returned to the gate. Examination of the airplane indicated damage to the right propeller, a broken passenger window, and damage to the fuselage skin and stringers near the broken window. ## Factual narrative On August 10, 2014 at about 0605 eastern daylight time, a deHavilland DHC-8-100, N815EX, operated by Piedmont Airlines d.b.a. USAirways Express flight 4206, struck a flock of geese during the takeoff roll from Middletown Harrisburg International Airport (KMDT), Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. There were no injuries to the passengers or crew and the airplane sustained damage. The flight was operating under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 121 as a regularly scheduled passenger flight between KMDT and Philadelphia International Airport (KPHL), Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The captain was the pilot flying and the first officer was the pilot monitoring. According to the flight crew, about 15 seconds into the takeoff roll and prior to V1, the captain observed a large group of geese flying from right to left in front of the airplane. He immediately initiated a rejected takeoff as the airplane impacted multiple geese on the front windshield and the right engine propeller, which caused a severe vibration. The flight crew shut down the right engine as the airplane slowed and returned to the gate. Examination of the airplane indicated damage to the right propeller, a broken passenger window, and damage to the fuselage skin and stringers near the broken window. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N815EX](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N815EX-2022-02-14), registration cancelled 2022-02-14, S/N 321 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: DEHAVILLAND DHC 8 102 (103) - Registry model: [Dehavilland DHC-8-102](https://openairdocs.org/model/dehavilland-dhc-8-102) (registry code 2809003) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney Canada PW120](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-canada-pw120) (registry code 52114, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 321 - Year built: 1992 - Engines: Pratt and Whitney PW120A 2000 horsepower turbo prop; Pratt and Whitney PW120A 2000 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 121 - Operator: Piedmont Airlines Inc, doing business as US Airways Express - Registered owner: Piedmont Airlines Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport - Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, August 9, 2014, 53,834 hours before - Departed: MDT, Harrisburg, PA - Destination: PHL, Philadelphia, PA - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: MDT, Harrisburg Intl, runway 13, 10,002 × 200 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Onboard weather, Stall warning system, Data recorder, Auto-pilot ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 64; injuries: none; airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 36,000 total, 18,000 in this make and model, 205 in the last 90 days, 67 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours - Co-pilot; age 30; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; seat: right; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 4,022 total, 3,662 in this make and model, 223 in the last 90 days, 75 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dawn - Wind: calm - Visibility: 9 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 59 °F - Altimeter: 30.12 inHg - Observed at: KMDT ## 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 20140810014459A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20140810014459A), Aug 10, 2014: Dehavilland DHC-8-102, Harrisburg, PA, Substantial damage. During take off roll at approx 40 knots IAS aircraft encountered a flock of geese striking several causing approx 17 inches of 1 propeller blade to separate… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 12, 2018, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=89887. 749 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 620 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40460768&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Pilot's Statement - Captain (item 2, .PDF, 104 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40460769&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%27s%20Statement%20-%20Captain-Master.PDF - Pilot's Statement - First Officer (item 3, .PDF, 25 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40460770&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%27s%20Statement%20-%20First%20Officer-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.