United MileagePlus (Consolidated) - United Flight Collided With Bird On Descent To Denver

A United Airlines plane collided with a bird on Tuesday as the plane was descending into Denver.

http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/31320050/detail.html

A United Airlines plane collided with a bird on Tuesday as the plane was descending into Denver.

http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/31320050/detail.html

Looks like only the radome was damaged - the pressurized hull starts at the line a bit further aft of the collision damage. So probably no depressurization. Better that than a hit on an engine...

Looks like N37420.

Look very close to the windshield. I wonder what would have happened had the bird been a couple of feet higher and to the left. Judging by the look at that damage, he probably would have gone right thru, the last thing that pilot would have thought was "why am I kissing a bird"

The "bird residue" is going to sent to the Smithsonian? What, do they think they hit a Pterodactyl?

My prediction:

• A passenger on the plane for the flight this was supposed to fly next will post here claiming it's evidence of "pilot action" causing delays;

• UA will charge the delay to the pilot for "controlled flight into avian";

• 10-page thread will result.

;)

Another change I don't like. Thanks SMI/J!

My prediction:

• A passenger on the plane for the flight this was supposed to fly next will post here claiming it's evidence of "pilot action" causing delays;

• UA will charge the delay to the pilot for "controlled flight into avian";

• 10-page thread will result.

;)

Don't forget the spin-off thread about compensation and another spin-off thread about DOT regulations followed by a class action lawsuit discussion. :eek:

By the way, what kind of bird can do that much damage? Looks more like a dinosaur than a bird.

Planes striking birds is pretty much common. Nothing to see here.... move along.

• A passenger on the plane for the flight this was supposed to fly next will post here claiming it's evidence of "pilot action" causing delays;


Only UA management is blaming at this time, and they're only doing it against PMUA pilots, as I understand. This was a CO plane, so I don't think that will be an issue.

Planes striking birds is pretty much common. Nothing to see here.... move along.

A dirty great hole in the nose is fairly rare though. It must have been one of these:

http://images3.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20100901224145/muppet/images/f/f8/Big-bird-NEW.jpg

Look very close to the windshield. I wonder what would have happened had the bird been a couple of feet higher and to the left. Judging by the look at that damage, he probably would have gone right thru, the last thing that pilot would have thought was "why am I kissing a bird"

There is absolutely zero chance of a bird coming through the windscreen.It is the strongest part on the whole aircraft.^

Looks like only the radome was damaged - the pressurized hull starts at the line a bit further aft of the collision damage. So probably no depressurization. Better that than a hit on an engine...

Depends on the size of the bird. I'd take a hit on the engine versus coming through the windshield. In this case, with a large hole in the radome, it was a large bird, and a hole like that or loss of the radome can cause problems with the instrumentation of the aircraft with airflow around the pitot tubes and static ports. It becomes a much bigger issue then.

The "bird residue" is going to sent to the Smithsonian? What, do they think they hit a Pterodactyl?

The remains are indentified to see what type of bird it was. They track all bird strikes to track migratory patterns and what birds are struck where. Helps us avoid certain altitudes and places birds tend to cluster near.

My prediction:

• A passenger on the plane for the flight this was supposed to fly next will post here claiming it's evidence of "pilot action" causing delays;

• UA will charge the delay to the pilot for "controlled flight into avian";

• 10-page thread will result.

;)

Now that was funny. :D

Planes striking birds is pretty much common. Nothing to see here.... move along.

Actually incorrect. Large bird strikes are pretty rare. But you're free to move along.

A dirty great hole in the nose is fairly rare though. It must have been one of these:

http://images3.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20100901224145/muppet/images/f/f8/Big-bird-NEW.jpg

Poor Big Bird. Now I know why I saw PBS folks wearing a black band. ;)

There is absolutely zero chance of a bird coming through the windscreen.It is the strongest part on the whole aircraft.^

There have been many cases of bird strikes coming through a window. Most of the time on military aircraft. But they're flying a lot faster than we are at low altitudes so that magnifies the impact and damage. If I hit a bird, even a large one on final approach, damage should be minor. If I hit it on takeoff accelerating or up at higher altitudes it could come through the windshield if big enough. Nice thing is we normally can see the big ones and avoid them. It's the little guys we usually schwack on takeoff and landing and we never even see the hit.

AD

In this case, with a large hole in the radome, it was a large bird, and a hole like that or loss of the radome can cause problems with the instrumentation of the aircraft with airflow around the pitot tubes and static ports. It becomes a much bigger issue then.

Correct, listening to ATC the pilot's airspeed indicator was knocked out and the first officer's airspeed indicator was "unreliable".

UA1475 starts at 26:40: http://archive-server.liveatc.net/kden/KDEN-App-Dep-Jul-31-2012-1430Z.mp3

Not intending to second guess the pilot, but out of sheer curiosity, why no mayday? Or at least pan pan?

Look very close to the windshield. I wonder what would have happened had the bird been a couple of feet higher and to the left. Judging by the look at that damage, he probably would have gone right thru, the last thing that pilot would have thought was "why am I kissing a bird"

The aircraft manufacturers have a canon that they use to fire chicken carcases to test windshield strength. Probably not a problem unless it was a very large bird.

The aircraft manufacturers have a canon that they use to fire chicken carcases to test windshield strength. Probably not a problem unless it was a very large bird.

Do they sell tickets to those test sessions? That sounds epically awesome!

Do they sell tickets to those test sessions? That sounds epically awesome!

there was a Mythbusters episode many many years ago where this process was discussed and filmed in detail. Youtube is your friend.

Do they sell tickets to those test sessions? That sounds epically awesome!
I don't think they do, but if the idea appeals to you, check out the Mythbusters "Chicken Gun" episode.

Not intending to second guess the pilot, but out of sheer curiosity, why no mayday? Or at least pan pan?
It wouldn't have changed anything ... by that point, he was already pretty much first in line for the runway, so priority handling from ATC wouldn't have made any difference, and the last thing that he needed at that point was any more potential distractions.

Regardless, he gave the controller enough information to know it was an urgent situation on the first call, and cemented that when he asked the controller to have them roll the trucks on the second call.

Pan-pan has virtually disappeared from the aeronautical lexicon (in the US at least).

Not intending to second guess the pilot, but out of sheer curiosity, why no mayday? Or at least pan pan?

No reason to call it. Only used if you're in an emergency and either out of control or have a very serious issue needing everyone to shut up so you can get through to ATC (US Air out of NYC would be an example). Pan is hardly ever used.

AD

The New York Times published an excellent story in 2009 after the US1549 incident about the Smithsonian's work identifying bird remains. An excerpt and a link:

"The National Museum of Natural History in Washington may not leap to mind when both engines on a high-tech plane quit at 3,200 feet. But around the corner from the stuffed African elephant that greets the visiting hordes of schoolchildren, down a back hall from the employee bike rack, a staff of four in the Feather Identification Lab took in samples from 4,600 bird-plane collisions, or bird strikes, last year. Arriving mostly in sealed plastic bags, these included birds’ feet, whole feathers or tiny bits of down, and pulverized bird guts, known as snarge."

Full story here (http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/25/science/25birds.html?pagewanted=all)

I think the only time I've ever heard a "pan pan" is on the SwissAir 111 ATC tapes...

What an over-entitled non-rev bird, wanting to sit all the way at the front of the jet.

What an over-entitled non-rev bird, wanting to sit all the way at the front of the jet.

:D Think the bird's family is demanding compensation? ;)

AD

What an over-entitled non-rev bird, wanting to sit all the way at the front of the jet.

Didn't even have a document managment card either....

Also side note...
Dome is made from soft and light materials to prevent interfearence with the radar....
They also make a good conversation piece and punch bowl at a college party ;)

Do they sell tickets to those test sessions? That sounds epically awesome!
A friend of mine actually ran the 'chicken cannon' at NRC in Ottawa during an engineering summer job many years ago. They would really go to the supermarket, buy a number of chickens, and fire them - at windshields, engines, whatever - during certification tests. Weirdest thing to write on one's resume.

Just remember to thaw the chickens first!

Probably to be expected when a major airport and a bird sanctuary are located so closely together. Actually, taxing at DIA is an excellent opportunity for sneaking in a little bird watching.

Didn't even have a document managment card either....

Also side note...
Dome is made from soft and light materials to prevent interfearence with the radar....
They also make a good conversation piece and punch bowl at a college party ;)

...but you need a piece of garden hose to drink from it. now there would be a good fluid dynamics quiz question to tackle with a hangover. Or so I'm told;)

FAB