# NTSB NYC02LA096: Beech 400, N400GJ, Cleveland, OH, May 8, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 8, 2002, 15:22 local (19:22 UTC) - Place: Cleveland, OH - Coordinates: 41.518054, -81.683334 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.5181&lon=-81.6833&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 25, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 54659 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC02LA096 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/54659/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54659 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC02LA096 ## Probable cause Ingestion of birds into both engines. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - On ground/water collision with object, takeoff - roll/run - object - bird(s) (cause) - abort above v1 - initiated, pilot in command ## Analysis While on the takeoff roll, as the airspeed increased, the co-pilot called "V1," and immediately alerted the pilot to the presence of birds. The birds began to impact the airplane and the pilot aborted the takeoff. The airplane came to rest about 100 feet prior to the departure end of the runway. Examination revealed that both engines had ingested birds. ## Factual narrative On May 8, 2002, about 1522 eastern daylight time, a Beech 400, N400GJ, operated by Georgia Jet, was substantially damaged during a bird strike, while departing from the Burke Lakefront Airport, Cleveland, Ohio. The two certificated airline transport pilots were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and an instrument flight rules flight plan was filed for the positioning flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91, destined for the Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD), Dulles, Virginia. According to the pilot, a flock of birds were observed sitting on the approach end of runway 6L as the airplane was taxied. When the airplane arrived at the approach end of the runway, the birds fled to the north. The flight was cleared for departure by air traffic control, and the airplane was positioned onto the runway. The flightcrew did not observe any birds on or around the runway, and power was applied for takeoff. As the airspeed increased, the co-pilot called "V1," and immediately alerted the pilot to the presence of birds. The birds began to impact the airplane and the pilot aborted the takeoff. The airplane came to a stop about 100 feet prior to the departure end of the runway. Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed substantial damage to both the left and right engines. Further examination of the right engine revealed that a fan blade separated and penetrated the engine cowling. A 2-inch gap was also observed between the engine and the fuselage. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N400GJ](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N400GJ-2013-12-02), registration cancelled 2013-12-02, S/N RJ-23, built 1988 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Beech 400 - Registry model: [Beech 400](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-400) (registry code 1155400) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney Canada JT15D 5 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-canada-jt15d-5-series) (registry code 52113, turbo-fan) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: RJ23 - Airframe hours: 6365 - Engines: Pratt & Whitney JT150-5 2900 lbs thrust turbo fan; Pratt & Whitney JT150-5 2900 lbs thrust turbo fan - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Positioning, Part 91 - Operator: Critical Care Mangement, doing business as Georgia Jet - Registered owner: Air Medical Leasing Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport - Last inspection: AAIP, April 5, 2002, 118 hours before - Departed: BKL, Cleveland, OH - Destination: IAD, Dulles, VA - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: BKL, Burke Lakefront Airport, runway 6L, 6,198 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 41; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review February 27, 2002; seat: left; flight hours: 6,300 total, 1,500 in this make and model, 5,500 as pilot in command, 165 in the last 90 days, 52 in the last 30 days - Co-pilot; age 53; injuries: none; airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review February 2, 2002; seat: right; flight hours: 6,110 total, 300 in this make and model, 210 in the last 90 days, 88 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 50° at 13 knots - Visibility: 8 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 20,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 52 °F, dew point 50 °F - Altimeter: 29.98 inHg - Observed at: BKL ## 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 20020508036429A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020508036429A), May 8, 2002: Beech 400BEECH, Cleveland, OH, Substantial damage. (-23) Aircraft struck flock of seagulls on take-off at "V1". Pilot aborted takeoff and was able to stop the aircraft around 100' from the departure end of… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 15, 2003, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54659. 285 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 285 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40436586&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.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.