# NTSB WPR10LA141: Cessna 208B, N892FE, Sacramento, CA, February 19, 2010 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: February 18, 2010, 18:41 local (Feb 19, 2010, 02:41 UTC) - Place: Sacramento, CA - Coordinates: 38.695278, -121.590553 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.6953&lon=-121.5906&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach: Birdstrike](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/901) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 28, 2010 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 75389 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR10LA141 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/75389/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=75389 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR10LA141 ## Probable cause An in-flight collision with a bird while on final approach. ## 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: [Cessna 208B, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022045/cases.md?model=2073701), [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. - [Approach: Birdstrike](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/901) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 208B, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/901/sequence.md?model=2073701), [All aircraft, 253 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/901/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot was on approach to the airport when he saw five large birds. The pilot felt an impact to the right wing and the airplane rolled to the right. The pilot corrected the roll with opposite aileron and rudder input and the airplane landed safely on the runway. Postaccident examination showed substantial damage to the right wing spar. Bird remains recovered from the airplane were identified as tundra swan. ## Factual narrative On February 18, 2010, at 1841 Pacific standard time, a Cessna 208B, N892FE, struck a bird while on approach to Sacramento International Airport, Sacramento, California. West Air, Inc., was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 135 as an on-demand cargo flight. The commercial pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and an instrument flight plan was in effect. The pilot departed from Arcata Airport, Arcata, California, and was on approach to his destination when the bird strike occurred. According to the pilot, he was approaching runway 16R. The airplane was on final approach at 300 feet above ground level when the pilot saw about five large birds. The pilot felt an impact to the airplane and the airplane rolled to the right as speed was reduced. The pilot corrected the roll with opposite aileron and rudder input and the aircraft landed on runway 16R. Post accident examination showed damage to the right wing landing/taxi light area. Impact to the spar web resulted in the spar cap twisting downward. Two holes were punctured through the spar web. The sheet metal directly behind the landing light assembly was torn loose. Additionally, some control loss was experienced by the pilot due to the aileron control cables being pushed out of position. Remains from the bird were recovered from the damage site and sent to the Smithsonian Institute for identification. According to the test results, the remains were identified as tundra swan. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N892FE](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N892FE), registered now, S/N 208B0222, built 1990 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 208B - Registry model: [Cessna 208B](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-208b) (registry code 2073701) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney PT6A series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-pt6a-series) (registry code 52034, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 208B0222 - Airframe hours: 8986 - Engines: Pratt and Whitney PT6-114A 500 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 135 - Operator: West Air Inc - Registered owner: Federal Express Corporation - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: AAIP, February 4, 2010, 4 hours before - Departed: ACV, Arcata, CA - Destination: SMF, Sacramento, CA - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: SMF, Sacramento International, runway 16R, 8,600 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 38; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review November 11, 2009; seat: left; flight hours: 4,210 total, 1,008 in this make and model, 4,050 as pilot in command, 77 in the last 90 days, 41 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night - Wind: 230° at 5 knots - Visibility: 8 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 59 °F, dew point 55 °F - Altimeter: 29.85 inHg - Observed at: SMF ## 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 20100218027659A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100218027659A), Feb 18, 2010: Cessna 208B, Sacramento, CA, Substantial damage. Aircraft struck bird on approach to smf, runway 16R at 1840PST. Aircraft landed without further incident. There were no injuries. An examination of the… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 1, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=75389. 1.5 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 146 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40326083&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Photos Provided by Operator (item 2, .PDF, 1.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40326027&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photos%20Provided%20by%20Operator-Master.PDF - SMF Bird Strike Report (item 3, .PDF, 29 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40327232&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=SMF%20Bird%20Strike%20Report-Master.PDF - Photo 1. Damage (Provided by FAA) (item 4, .PDF, 100 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40326028&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201.%20Damage%20(Provided%20by%20FAA)-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.