# NTSB ERA14CA032: Beech V35B, N328HR, Palm Coast, FL, October 26, 2013 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: October 26, 2013, 14:21 local (18:21 UTC) - Place: Palm Coast, FL - Coordinates: 29.4675, -81.20639 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.4675&lon=-81.2064&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering: Birdstrike](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/901) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 4, 2014 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - NTSB case key (mKey): 88363 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA14CA032 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/88363/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=88363 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA14CA032 ## Probable cause An inadvertent collision with a black vulture. ## 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: [Beech V35B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022045/cases.md?model=1151548), [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. - [Maneuvering: Birdstrike](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/901) (defining event); cases with it: [Beech V35B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/901/sequence.md?model=1151548), [All aircraft, 253 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/901/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to the pilot, the airplane was at 1,000 feet, airspeed about 100 knots, and he was following tower instructions to enter a right downwind for the runway. Approaching the downwind leg, he saw a large black bird and commented to his passengers that they had to keep an eye on it in case they needed to maneuver. The pilot continued toward the airport, looking for traffic and birds, and within a few seconds the airplane was very close to the bird. The pilot descended the airplane to where he thought it would pass overhead, but the bird then dove at the last second and the pilot heard a "thud" on the cabin roof. There were no other indications of impact, and the pilot continued a "normal" right base, a right turn to final, and landing. Once back at his hangar, the pilot noticed the substantial damage to the left ruddervator. A feather retrieved from the ruddervator impact site was examined "whole feather" and microscopically, and was determined to be from a black vulture (coragyps atratus) with an average weight about 4.7 pounds. ## Factual narrative According to the pilot, the airplane was at 1,000 feet, airspeed about 100 knots, and he was following tower instructions to enter a right downwind for the runway. Approaching the downwind leg, he saw a large black bird and commented to his passengers that they had to keep an eye on it in case they needed to maneuver. The pilot continued toward the airport, looking for traffic and birds, and within a few seconds the airplane was very close to the bird. The pilot descended the airplane to where he thought it would pass overhead, but the bird then dove at the last second and the pilot heard a "thud" on the cabin roof. There were no other indications of impact, and the pilot continued a "normal" right base, a right turn to final, and landing. Once back at his hangar, the pilot noticed the substantial damage to the left ruddervator. A feather retrieved from the ruddervator impact site was examined "whole feather" and microscopically, and was determined to be from a black vulture (coragyps atratus) with an average weight about 4.7 pounds. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N328HR](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N328HR), registered now, S/N D-10269, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BEECH V35B - Registry model: [Beech V35B](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-v35b) (registry code 1151548) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: D-10269 - Year built: 1979 - Engines: Continental IO-520BB 285 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Fire: Unknown - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: XFL, Palm Coast, FL - Destination: XFL, Palm Coast, FL - Airport: XFL, Flagler County ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 66; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 2,202 total, 160 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 10° at 10 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 54 °F - Altimeter: 30.13 inHg - Observed at: DAB, 19 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 20131026020179A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20131026020179A), Oct 26, 2013: Beech V35B, Palm Coast, FL, Substantial damage. The pilot stated while on approach into Flagler County Airport (kxfl) for a landing on runway 06 on October 26, 2013 while on his base leg ready to turn final… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 21, 2014, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=88363. 3.2 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40407664&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Bird Feather Analysis (item 2, .PDF, 102 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40407665&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Bird%20Feather%20Analysis-Redacted.PDF - Photo 1 - Left Ruddervator Leading Edge (Courtesy of Pilot) (item 3, .PDF, 552 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40407666&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20-%20Left%20Ruddervator%20Leading%20Edge%20(Courtesy%20of%20Pilot)-Master.PDF - Photo 2 - Left Ruddervator Top View (Coutesy of Pilot) (item 4, .PDF, 513 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40407667&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%20-%20Left%20Ruddervator%20Top%20View%20(Coutesy%20of%20Pilot)-Master.PDF - Photo 3 - Left Ruddervator Underside View (Courtesy of Pilot) (item 5, .PDF, 501 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40407668&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%203%20-%20Left%20Ruddervator%20Underside%20View%20(Courtesy%20of%20Pilot)-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.