# NTSB ERA12CA218: Piper PA-31-350, N4083Y, Atlanta, GA, March 7, 2012 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: March 7, 2012, 00:45 local (05:45 UTC) - Place: Atlanta, GA - Coordinates: 33.875831, -84.30194 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.8758&lon=-84.3019&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: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 13, 2012 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA Atlanta FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 83083 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA12CA218 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/83083/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=83083 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA12CA218 ## Probable cause An in-flight collision with birds 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: [Piper PA-31-350, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022045/cases.md?model=7103110), [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: [Piper PA-31-350, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/901/sequence.md?model=7103110), [All aircraft, 253 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/901/sequence.md) ## Analysis The airplane was in cruise flight at 6,000 feet mean sea level when birds hit the top center section of the windscreen, shattered it, and entered the cockpit. The pilot declared an emergency and requested an instrument flight rules clearance back to his departure airport. The clearance was approved, and the airplane arrived at the departure airport without further incident. Examination of the airplane revealed that the vertical stabilizer received substantial damage. ## Factual narrative The airplane was in cruise flight at 6,000 feet above ground level when the windscreen was shattered by birds. The birds hit the top center section of the windscreen and entered the cockpit. The pilot declared an emergency with Air Traffic Control and requested an IFR clearance back to his departure airport. The clearance was approved. The pilot was not injured and the airplane arrived at the departure airport without further incident. Examination of the airplane revealed the airplane sustained substantial damage. The vertical stabilizer received structural damage and had to be replaced. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4083Y](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4083Y-2013-11-21), registration cancelled 2013-11-21, S/N 31-8152100, built 1981 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-31-350 - Registry model: [Piper PA-31-350](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-31-350) (registry code 7103110) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming TI0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ti0-540-series) (registry code 41533, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 31-8152100 - Airframe hours: 18525 - Engines: LYCOMING TI0-540 SER 310 horsepower reciprocating; LYCOMING TI0-540 -J2B 350 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Executive/Corporate, Part 91 - Operator: Laboratory Corp Of America Holdings - Registered owner: Laboratory Corp Of America Holdings - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, February 7, 2012, 73 hours before - Departed: PDK, Atlanta, GA - Destination: BHM, Birmingham, AL - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: PDK, Dekalb Peachtree Airport ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 52; injuries: none; commercial, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review November 11, 2011; seat: left; flight hours: 10,225 total, 5,625 in this make and model, 7,900 as pilot in command, 280 in the last 90 days, 90 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark - Wind: 100° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 48 °F, dew point 36 °F - Altimeter: 30.52 inHg - Observed at: PDK ## 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 20120307002629A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120307002629A), Mar 7, 2012: Piper PA-31-350, Atlanta, GA, Substantial damage. Aircraft departed Peachtree-Dekalb Airport(pdk), Georgia enroute to birmingham international airport, Alabama. On climbout from pdk, aircraft received multiple… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 10, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=83083. 1.8 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40364606&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-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. --- 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.