# NTSB NYC02LA008: Aerospatiale ATR 42-320, N34820, Yardley, PA, October 13, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 13, 2001, 19:00 local (23:00 UTC) - Place: Yardley, PA - Coordinates: 40.199203, -74.77922 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.1992&lon=-74.7792&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 29 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 4, 2002 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA FSDO-25 - NTSB case key (mKey): 53606 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC02LA008 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/53606/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC02LA008 ## Probable cause an in flight collision with birds. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with object, cruise - object - bird(s) (cause) ## Analysis While in cruise flight at 5,000 feet, the flight crew experienced a loud bang and subsequent roll and yaw of the airplane. They also experienced severe buffeting and the autopilot disengaged. The flight crew then observed that the number two power lever was jammed in a 68 percent torque position, and the airplane was unstable about the roll axis. After the airplane landed uneventfully, maintenance personnel and a FAA inspector observed two large bird strikes to the right wing. There was damage to the right wing spar cap, outer spar, ribs, and lower skin aft of the spar. Additionally, the inspector noted damage to the area of center section control pulleys, and that the number two engine throttle control pulley was broken. ## Factual narrative On October 13, 2001, about 1900 eastern daylight time, an Aerospatiale ATR 42-320, N34820, was substantially damaged during a bird strike, while in cruise flight near Yardley, Pennsylvania. The airplane was operated by Continental Express Airlines Inc. as flight 3354. There were no injuries to the 3 crewmembers and 26 passengers. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight that departed Norfolk International Airport, Norfolk, Virginia, about 1745. An instrument flight rules flight plan was filed for the scheduled air carrier flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 121. The flight crew reported that they were en route to Newark International Airport (EWR), Newark, New Jersey, at 5,000 feet; when they experienced a loud bang and subsequent roll and yaw of the airplane. They also experienced a severe buffeting and the autopilot disengaged. The flight crew then observed that the number two power lever was jammed in a 68 percent torque position, and the airplane was unstable about the roll axis. The flight crew then declared an emergency and landed uneventfully at EWR. Post flight inspection of the airplane by maintenance personnel revealed damaged to the right wing outboard leading edge and a hole in the center fairing. They believed that the damage was caused by a collision with two Canada geese. Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed damage to the right wing spar cap, outer spar, ribs, and lower skin aft of the spar. Additionally, the inspector noted damage to the area of center section control pulleys, and that the number 2 engine throttle control pulley was broken. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N34820](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N34820-2004-12-02), registration cancelled 2004-12-02, S/N 159 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Aerospatiale ATR 42-320 - Registry model: [Aerospatiale/Aeritalia ATR 42-320](https://openairdocs.org/model/aerospatiale-aeritalia-atr-42-320) (registry code 8680930) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney Canada PW121](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-canada-pw121) (registry code 52124, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 159 - Airframe hours: 25977 - Engines: P&W PW121 2100 horsepower turbo prop; P&W PW121 2100 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 121 - Operator: Continental Express Inc. - Registered owner: Wells Fargo Bank Northwest - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport - Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, October 3, 2001, 69 hours before - Departed: ORF, Norfolk, VA - Destination: EWR, Newark, NJ - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: EWR, Newark International Airport, runway 22L, 9,980 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 29; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review October 7, 2001; seat: left; flight hours: 2,900 total, 1,600 in this make and model - Co-pilot; age 25; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review March 17, 2001; seat: right; flight hours: 1,550 total, 290 in this make and model, 205 in the last 90 days, 53 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night - Wind: 120° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 61 °F - Altimeter: 30.12 inHg - Observed at: PNE, 12 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). - [Incident 20011013028359I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20011013028359I), Oct 13, 2001: Aerosp ATR42320, Newark, NJ, Substantial damage. (-23) At 1900E Continental express (jetlink) flight 3354, an ATR42-320 struck 2 canadian geese about 8 miles from yardley, pa enroute from norfolk (orf), VA to… 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.