2009 — Jan 4, Sikorsky Helicopter hits hawk after takeoff, crashes ~Morgan City, LA–8
— 8 Assoc. Press. “Bird-plane collisions may pass 10,000, a first.” Huffpost Denver. 1-12-2010.
— 8 CNN. “NTSB: Bird strike caused fatal 2009 helicopter crash.” 11-24-2010.
— 8 NTSB. “NTSB Cites Lack of Bird Strike Resistant Windshield…” 11-24-2010.
Narrative Information
NTSB 11-24-2010 Press Release: “The National Transportation Safety Board today released a final report on a fatal crash involving a transport-category helicopter caused by a bird strike. The Board said the lack of requirements for bird strike-resistant windshields contributed to the crash, and called on the FAA to develop such requirements.
“On January 4, 2009, a dual-engine Sikorsky S-76C++ helicopter (N748P), registered to and operated by PHI, Inc.,[1] crashed into marshy terrain near Morgan City, Louisiana approximately 7 minutes after takeoff from Amelia, Louisiana, on a charter flight to an oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico. Both pilots and 6 of the 7 passengers were killed in the crash.
“The aircraft had reached level cruise flight at 850 feet mean sea level and 135 knots when the cockpit voice recorder recorded a loud bang, followed by sounds consistent with rushing wind and a power reduction on both engines. The aircraft crashed several seconds later. Feathers and other bird debris were collected from the canopy and windshield of the aircraft. Laboratory analysis identified the remains as coming from a female red-tailed hawk; the average weight of such a bird is 2.4 pounds.
“The investigation revealed that the impact of the bird on the canopy just above the windshield near the engine control quadrant likely jarred the fire extinguisher T-handles out of their detents and moved them aft, pushing both engine control levers into or near the flight idle position, reducing fuel to both engines. The pilots were probably disoriented from the broken windshield and rushing air and were unable to react in time to maintain control of the helicopter.
“The helicopter was originally equipped with laminated glass windshields that complied with European bird-strike resistance standards. PHI replaced the windshields with lighter-weight, aftermarket cast acrylic windshields. The Federal Aviation Administration did not impose bird strike standards on these windshields.
“The NTSB determined that the helicopter crashed because of the sudden loss of power to both engines following the bird strike and the subsequent disorientation of the crewmembers. Contributing to the accident, the Board said, were the lack of FAA regulations and guidance requiring helicopter windshields to be resistant to bird strikes, the lack of protections that would prevent the T-handles from inadvertently dislodging out of their detents, and the lack of a master warning light and audible system to alert the flight crew of a low-rotor speed condition.
“Recommendations were issued to the FAA dealing with, among other things, the design of S-76C++ fire extinguisher T- handles and engine control quadrants, and similar designs of other helicopters, and of audible low-rotor alarm systems; certification standards for helicopter windshields; and simultaneous dual-engine power loss training for helicopter pilots.” (NTSB. “NTSB Cites Lack of Bird Strike Resistant Windshield Requirements in Fatal Crash of Helicopter in Louisiana.” NTSB Press Release, 11-24-2010.)
Sources
Associated Press (John Lowy and Ted Bridis). “Bird-plane collisions may pass 10,000, a first.” Huffpost Denver. 1-12-2010. Accessed 5-18-2016 at: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/wires/2010/01/12/birdplane-collisions-may-_ws_420378.html
CNN. “NTSB: Bird strike caused fatal 2009 helicopter crash.” 11-24-2010. Accessed 5-18-2016 at: http://www.cnn.com/2010/US/11/24/helicopter.crash.cause/
National Transportation Safety Board. “NTSB Cites Lack of Bird Strike Resistant Windshield Requirements in Fatal Crash of Helicopter in Louisiana.” Washington, DC: NTSB Press Release, 11-24-2010. Accessed 5-18-2016 at: http://www.ntsb.gov/news/press-releases/Pages/NTSB_Cites_Lack_of_Bird_Strike_Resistant_Windshield_Requirements_in_Fatal_Crash_of_Helicopter_in_Louisiana.aspx
PHI Inc. The Total Helicopter Company. Accessed 5-18-2016 at: http://www.phihelico.com/
[1] Helicopter Services company. (Phihelico.com)