Blob of bird on flap, common occurrence?

[OlaM]

Mid-July I flew with Norwegian from Stansted to Flesland after attending the magnificent Flying Legends 2005 show.

I sat just behind the starboard wing and when the flaps deployed fully for landing I noticed a blob of feathers and blood on the flap.

It was on the inner section, creeping out on top of the rear most panel. I couldn't see any damage to the panel but it was pretty obvious that the feathered aviator had passed pretty close to the engine and that its remains had been there since at least the landing at Stansted.

I wanted to take a pic but my camera was in the overhead compartment and my trembling fear of cabin crew authority prevented me from unbuckling and retrieving it during the approach.

While disembarking I told the stewardess who opened the cockpit door so I could tell the F/O. He looked at me like I was trying to explain quantum mechanics through yodeling. I mentioned the exact location and that panel seemed undamaged, he shrugged and thanked for the info.

Questions:

How common are birdstrikes really?

If a bird is lodged between the two rearmost flap panels, will it be completely hidden from inspection when the flaps are retracted? (737)

Since it hit the flap in landing config, it's obvious that it was sitting there for at least one turn around. How often will the flaps get inspected fully extended?

[cdb]

You might get a better response if you ask a mod to move this to the "Questions" forum.

[TightSlot]

Very sensible suggestion cdb - Thanks, and will move it now...

[lomapaseo]

Answer

very common

although not always visible to the passengers.

Airflow has a great deal to do with scrubbing of remains which can be viewed from the pax windows, but goo stuck in protected areas will remain much longer.

Just take a look at the soft areas on the leading edges of horriz stabs and you are only looking at about one hundreth of the encounters with birds.

[cirrus01]

Full flaps inspection on 737s carried out on a weekly check with BA...........Bird remains not exactly often found, but then again not rare occurance either. Lots more damage on the undersides normally , caused by FOD kicked up by the wheels or Engine exhaust............. Outboard aft flap impact damage/ delamination a particular problem especially at the inboard end.

Rgds Cirrus01 :cool:

[Capt Claret]

Tech Log entry Evidence of bird strike, right flap leading edge.

Clearing Action Evidence removed. :\

For a while I was referred to as Chick magnet by the folk in Ops Control. Alas, this wasn't due to my machismo. I went through a period of about 6 months or so where bird strikes were a common occurrence. 2 engines in two weeks, on one of these occasions the preflight (after previous landing) revealed at least 8 bird blobs around the wings & fuse, along with a gutfull in #4.

Another hawk impact just prior to 80 kts on take off created the loudest bang I've ever heard in an aircraft. Bent a fan blade too.

How common are they? Very, just where and when changes. (touch wood) I've not had one for over a year now. :}