Today i got first bird strike!! Pictures included!
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Today i got first bird strike!! Pictures included!
This morning i went on with my PPL training in the 152 Cessna... i was on short final... i just yelled: bird strike! A slight of a second later, BAM!!
The airport people found the head of the unlucky one on the runway, the rest was sitting in my carb heat intake opening....
I didn't felt i was in a dangerous situation because seconds later i was above the runway and i was just gently landing ...
The airport people found the head of the unlucky one on the runway, the rest was sitting in my carb heat intake opening....
I didn't felt i was in a dangerous situation because seconds later i was above the runway and i was just gently landing ...
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Well done! Especially the gentle landing one. Were you solo or with an instructor?
As an aside, any smears on the prop? The pictures don't show any although I guess it's likely the prop which took its head off. There's a discussion somewhere else on PPRuNe about whether a reasonably-sized bird (like "yours") would be able to pass through the prop arc without being torn to pieces by the prop. In other words - whether the prop would provide protection against serious consequences of a bird strike in a SEP. I think you just proved that wrong.
As an aside, any smears on the prop? The pictures don't show any although I guess it's likely the prop which took its head off. There's a discussion somewhere else on PPRuNe about whether a reasonably-sized bird (like "yours") would be able to pass through the prop arc without being torn to pieces by the prop. In other words - whether the prop would provide protection against serious consequences of a bird strike in a SEP. I think you just proved that wrong.
Off to the Taxidermist
May I suggest finding a bit of Cessna cowl and maybe even a u/s cylinder head from a salvage yard and mounting the bird on it.
Would make a fine conversation piece in the den or flying club
Would make a fine conversation piece in the den or flying club
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Just a point of note, the unfortunate bird is in the engine cooling air inlet not the carb heat inlet. The carb heat is taken from around the number 4 cylinder (rear left) exhaust downpipe.
Normal carb induction air is through the filter (normally below the landing light, blanked off on this example). Don't want anyone to think the bird was about to cause engine problems.
Normal carb induction air is through the filter (normally below the landing light, blanked off on this example). Don't want anyone to think the bird was about to cause engine problems.
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the foto of it lying on the tarmac with no head - best foto I've seen all week!
Have no sympathy with birds - My car is always covered in sh*t, so I hate them!
good job captain!
Have no sympathy with birds - My car is always covered in sh*t, so I hate them!
good job captain!
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As an aside, any smears on the prop? The pictures don't show any although I guess it's likely the prop which took its head off. There's a discussion somewhere else on PPRuNe about whether a reasonably-sized bird (like "yours") would be able to pass through the prop arc without being torn to pieces by the prop. In other words - whether the prop would provide protection against serious consequences of a bird strike in a SEP. I think you just proved that wrong.
I was with my instructor (a russian pilot, very good one, with lots of hours, he told me it was his first bird strike ever!!) When we reported the bird strike to the tower, when we were taxiing off the runway, there was already some maintenance team ready to do a good check of the runway.. and they found the head instantly, they only wanted to know on what part of the runway we had the impact.
We couldn't see any damage, aldo a technician will remove the cowlings and check everything, tomorrow morning i have lessons again in this machine!!
Thank you for the BS PPRune membership!
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Have you painted a kill marking on yet? 
We managed to down 12 Canada geese in one incident at work (only one or two hit the plane) but the company didn't think 12 goose symbols with crosses through them beneath the cockpit window was good PR.
We managed to down 12 Canada geese in one incident at work (only one or two hit the plane) but the company didn't think 12 goose symbols with crosses through them beneath the cockpit window was good PR.
Last edited by DB6; 12th Aug 2007 at 09:47.
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This morning i flew again with that machine... on my home airport EBAW... they were fireing canoon-shots, i guess they took that bird impact serious ?
Also the grass around the airfield was yesterday freshley cut.. seems to attrack birds hunting for mouses ?
Also the grass around the airfield was yesterday freshley cut.. seems to attrack birds hunting for mouses ?
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The real question of course is . . . . did you pop the head into a bucket of ice and try to attach it back later?
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Regarding the fact that it got (largely) through the prop unscathed, I think now be a good time to revive the perpetual argument of wearing a flying helmet, or some form of eye protection.
I certainly wouldn't fancy my chances of dodging the shards of perspex if it hit the canopy, let alone landing with an sixty/seventy knot wind in my face! (Beg to differ? Try it as a passenger on the motorway one day!)
Your "mates" might regard you a little curiously attired, but if it ends up being a potential life-saver, I don't think it's too high a price to pay.
I certainly wouldn't fancy my chances of dodging the shards of perspex if it hit the canopy, let alone landing with an sixty/seventy knot wind in my face! (Beg to differ? Try it as a passenger on the motorway one day!)
Your "mates" might regard you a little curiously attired, but if it ends up being a potential life-saver, I don't think it's too high a price to pay.
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I think now be a good time to revive the perpetual argument of wearing a flying helmet, or some form of eye protection.
- but I assume you know that all bird strikes are now reportable to the CAA...?