# NTSB ERA12CA236: Diamond Aircraft Ind DA 42, N915ER, New Smyrna, FL, March 12, 2012 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: March 12, 2012, 18:30 local (22:30 UTC) - Place: New Smyrna, FL - Coordinates: 28.97861, -80.925003 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.9786&lon=-80.9250&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 15, 2012 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 83170 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA12CA236 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/83170/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=83170 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA12CA236 ## Probable cause An inadvertent encounter 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: [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: [All aircraft, 253 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/901/sequence.md) ## Analysis The flight instructor and the student pilot were in cruise flight at 1,600 feet above the ground, preparing to land after an instructional flight, when they noticed three buzzards that were ahead, below, and to the right of their airplane and climbing. The pilots entered a climbing left turn and successfully avoided two of the birds; however, the remaining bird suddenly changed direction and impacted the right wing, resulting in substantial damage to its composite structure. After advising air traffic controllers of the encounter, the pilots landed the airplane uneventfully at a nearby airport. ## Factual narrative The flight instructor and the student pilot began preparing for arrival at the destination airport at the conclusion of an instructional flight. While cruising at an altitude of 1,600 feet, they turned the airplane north, and noticed three buzzards that were ahead, below, and to the right of their airplane and climbing. The pilots disconnected the autopilot and entered a climbing left turn in an attempt to avoid the group of birds. After avoiding two of the birds, the remaining bird suddenly changed direction and impacted the right wing, resulting in substantial damage to its composite structure. After advising air traffic control of the encounter, the pilots landed the airplane uneventfully at a nearby airport. ## Aircraft - Registration: N915ER (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: DIAMOND AIRCRAFT IND INC DA 42 - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 42.AC150 - Airframe hours: 1352 - Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-MIA+ 180 horsepower reciprocating; LYCOMING IO-360-MIA+ 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University - Registered owner: Avn Air LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, February 15, 2012 - Departed: EVB, New Smyrna, FL - Destination: DAB, Daytona Beach, FL ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 28; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review September 21, 2011; seat: right; flight hours: 3,100 total, 500 in this make and model, 2,850 as pilot in command, 126 in the last 90 days, 58 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours - Student pilot; age 28; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 161 total, 60 in this make and model, 10 as pilot in command, 19 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 90° at 12 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 55 °F - Altimeter: 30.28 inHg - Observed at: DAB, 14 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). - [Accident 20120312003059A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120312003059A), Mar 12, 2012: Diamond Aircraft Ind Inc DA 42, New Smyrna, FL, Substantial damage. Monday 3/12/12, aircraft N915ER suffered a bird strike. The aircraft was approximately 1.5 miles south of New Smyrna at an altitude of 1600 feet with auto… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 10, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=83170. 770 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 610 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40365537&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Photo 1 - Damage to Right Wing from Forward (Photo Courtesy of Operator) (item 2, .PDF, 90 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40365538&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20-%20Damage%20to%20Right%20Wing%20from%20Forward%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20Operator)-Master.PDF - Photo 2 - Damage to Right Wing Looking Toward Wing Tip (Photo Courtesy of Operator) (item 3, .PDF, 69 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40365539&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%20-%20Damage%20to%20Right%20Wing%20Looking%20Toward%20Wing%20Tip%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20Operator)-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.