# NTSB ERA22LA325: Raytheon 400A, N400MX, Brunswick, GA, July 15, 2022 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: July 15, 2022, 20:30 UTC - Place: Brunswick, GA · Initial climb - Coordinates: 31.259035, -81.466316 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.2590&lon=-81.4663&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: 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): 105531 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA22LA325 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/105531/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105531 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA22LA325 ## Probable cause An in-flight collision with a bird. ## 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 · Ability to respond/compensate (probable cause); cases with it: [Raytheon 400A, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022045/cases.md?model=7150010), [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. - [Initial climb: Birdstrike](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/901) (defining event); cases with it: [Raytheon 400A, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/901/sequence.md?model=7150010), [All aircraft, 253 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/901/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that shortly after departure, during their initial climb, he heard a “thump” and suspected a bird strike. The crew did not experience any control issues or anomalous behavior initially but continued to troubleshoot. As they were approaching 10,000 ft mean sea level, they noticed that the cabin altitude was also approaching 10,000 ft, so they leveled off and determined that they had a pressurization problem. After conferring with their flight operations and maintenance department, they notified air traffic control and diverted to a suitable airport and landed safely. Upon subsequent inspection it was revealed that a bird had penetrated the right side of the nose under the first officer’s window. The impact ruptured the fuselage and resulted in substantial airframe damage. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N400MX](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N400MX), registered now, S/N RK-509, built 2007 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: RAYTHEON AIRCRAFT COMPANY 400A - Registry model: [Raytheon 400A](https://openairdocs.org/model/raytheon-400a) (registry code 7150010) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney Canada JT15D-5R](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-canada-jt15d-5r) (registry code 52285, turbo-fan) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: RK-509 - Year built: 2007 - Engines: P&W Canada JT15D-5R turbo fan; P&W Canada JT15D-5R turbo fan - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Business, Part 91 - Operator: Aircraft Mgt. Group, Inc - Registered owner: Rjb Management Company Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: BQK, Brunswick, GA - Destination: PIT, Pittsburgh, PA - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: BQK, Brunswick Golden Isles - Equipment: Electronic primary flight display, Electronic multifunction display, Auto-pilot, ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 61; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, unknown; seat: left; restraint: 5-point - Co-pilot; age 21; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, unknown; seat: right; restraint: 5-point ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk - Wind: 300° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 2,300 ft broken - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 77 °F - Altimeter: 30.10 inHg - Observed at: BQK - METAR: KBQK 160035Z AUTO 30005KT 10SM -RA BKN023 BKN027 BKN065 26/25 A3010 RMK AO2 LTG DSNT W T02600250 ## 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 20220715007109A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220715007109A), Jul 15, 2022: Raytheon Aircraft Company 400A, Brunswick, GA, Substantial damage. July 15, 2022 while en route from kbqk to kalb. Shortly after departing kbqk on initial climb out the crew heard a thump and suspected a possible bird strike.… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 31, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105531. 4.9 MB in all. - Operators 6120 with attached pilot report (item 1, PDF, 12 pages, 2.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14240805&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Operators%206120%20with%20Attached%20Pilot%20Report_redacted-Rel.pdf - Pilot statement (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 235 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14227911&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Event%20Statement%20from%20Steve%20Osborne%207-15-22%20Bird%20Strike_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Operator damage report (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 816 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14240410&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Damage%20Report_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Investigative photographs (item 4, PDF, 4 pages, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14246855&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Bird%20Strike%20Damage%20Photographs-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.