Just asking - Did the Rome multiple birdstrike and resultant very hard landing get treated/classified as an accident or an incident by the authorities?
An
accident is defined (ICAO Annex 13) as:
"An occurrence ... in which ... b) the aircraft sustains damage or structural failure which adversely affects the structural strength, performance or flight characteristics of the aircraft, and would normally require major repair or replacement of the affected component".
It would be hard to argue that poking a MLG leg up through the wing doesn't fit that criterion - therefore it's technically as
accident, not an incident.