An ATSB investigation report released today reveals that a birdstrike caused the fatal crash of an Air Tractor 502B in September last year.
Air Tractor VH-KDR was spraying paddocks 17 nm north-east of Chinchilla in QLD, when it crashed whilst flying only 8 feet above the ground. The pilot was fatally injured.
Investigations showed an Australian bustard, Australia's heaviest flying bird, struck the aircraft's perspex windscreen and carried through into the cockpit. The aircraft continued flying for another 5 seconds before striking the ground.
According to the ATSB, the Air Tractor hit the ground left-wing first in a near vertical attitude. A large bird carcass was found in the cockpit and severed bird wings were located about 310 m away along the line of the aircraft’s track. Investigators found bird feathers along the flight path in between the location of wings and aircraft wreckage.
The ATSB concluded the pilot was unable to control the aircraft in the seconds after the birdstrike, resulting in the collision with the ground.
Prior to 2022, there were no fatal birdstrike accidents in Australia on record involving civil aircraft, but this incident was the second one last year; the first being the in-flight break-up of a helicopter after striking a wedgetail eagle in July.
“While the vast majority of birdstrikes result in nil-to-minor damage to the aircraft, and nil-to-minor injuries to occupants, these two accidents highlight the ongoing hazard birdstrikes represent,” ATSB Director Transport Safety Ms Kerri Hughes said.
“This second accident in particular highlights the ongoing hazards presented during low-level spraying operations.”
The ATSB’s final report notes recommended practices published by the Australian Aviation Wildlife Hazard Group on managing the risk of wildlife strikes.
“Practices include considering the likelihood of a wildlife strike and proximity of known wildlife characteristics such as their agility, speed, manoeuvrability, and their ability to avoid aircraft, as well as considerations such as the consequence of a potential strike,” Hughes said.
The full report into the crash is on the ATSB website.