# NTSB ERA21LA376: Piper PA-44-180, N442HG, Unadilla, GA, September 21, 2021

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: September 21, 2021, 15:40 local (19:40 UTC)
- Place: Unadilla, GA
- Coordinates: 32.270161, -83.753407 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.2702&lon=-83.7534&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Enroute: Birdstrike](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/901)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: FAA/FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 103942
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA21LA376
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/103942/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103942
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA21LA376

## Probable cause

The airplane's impact by a bird during the enroute portion of the 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 operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-44-180, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022045/cases.md?model=7104402), [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 · Ability to respond/compensate (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-44-180, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022045/cases.md?model=7104402), [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: Birdstrike](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/901) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-44-180, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/901/sequence.md?model=7104402), [All aircraft, 253 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/901/sequence.md)
- [Enroute: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Piper PA-44-180, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=7104402), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that while enroute to his destination, about 2,400 ft mean sea level, he maneuvered to avoid a flock of birds; however, a bird contacted the left wing. He declared an emergency and landed the airplane at the nearest suitable airport without further incident. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N442HG](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N442HG), registered now, S/N 4496056, built 2001 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-44-180
- Registry model: [Piper PA-44-180](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-44-180) (registry code 7104402) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 4496056
- Year built: 2001
- Airframe hours: 4298.9
- Engines: LYCOMING LO-360-A1H6 180 horsepower reciprocating; LYCOMING O-360-A1H6 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Georgia Aviation Authority
- Registered owner: Georgia Aviation Authority
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, July 1, 2021, 26.8 hours before
- Departed: TLH, Tallahassee, FL
- Destination: MAC, Macon, GA
- Equipment: Stall warning system, ADS-B, Auto-pilot, Electronic multifunction display, Electronic primary flight display

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 23; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review July 13, 2021; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 950 total, 44 in this make and model, 895 as pilot in command, 214 in the last 90 days, 86 in the last 30 days, 7 in the last 24 hours
- Co-pilot; age 24; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review September 21, 2021; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 660 total, 12 in this make and model, 609 as pilot in command, 173 in the last 90 days, 61 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 200° at 3 knots
- Temperature: 86 °F, dew point 72 °F
- Altimeter: 30.03 inHg
- Icing: Unknown
- Turbulence: Unknown
- Observed at: ACJ, 24 nm away
- METAR: KACJ 211935Z AUTO 20003KT SCT120 30/22 A3003 RMK AO2 PWINO

## 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 20210921014579A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210921014579A), Sep 21, 2021: Piper PA-44-180, Montazuma, GA, Substantial damage. Aircraft departed ktlh on a instructional flight back to kmac. Two individuals were onboard, (pilot instructor and student pilot). The event occurred at…

## Docket (3 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 8, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103942. 2.6 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 2.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12775808&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ERA21LA376%20Signed%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Investigative photographs (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 283 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12775818&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array-Rel.pdf
- Memorandum for record damage assessment (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 138 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12775077&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record-Damage%20Assessment-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.

---
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.