Bombardier CL-600-2B16 N483BA

Summary

On 8 April 2008 at about 18:05 local time, a Bombardier CL-600-2B16 registered N483BA, operated by The Boeing Company Executive Flight Operations, was involved in an accident near Colorado Spring, Colorado, United States. 5 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

8 April 2008 at 18:05

Classification

Accident

Location

Colorado Spring, Colorado, United States

Coordinates

38.8056, -104.7006

Aircraft

Bombardier CL-600-2B16

Registration

N483BA

Category

Airplane

Engines

2

Operator

The Boeing Company Executive Flight Operations

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Executive/Corporate

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Colorado Spring → Washington

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

DEN08FA072

Nobody was injured.

the impact with a bird during initial takeoff climb.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

Prior to departure, the crew had not received any advisories regarding bird activity in the area, and the weather was sky clear with light winds. On takeoff, the crew was given a clearance to a 150-degree heading and a climb to 10,000 feet mean sea level (msl). The takeoff was normal and in accordance with company procedures. Approximately 2 minutes after takeoff and passing through 8,000 feet msl and 230 knots, the crew noticed "large white birds." Immediately thereafter, the airplane impacted the birds. "At first there was a loud bang, followed by a moderately loud wind noise." The crew realized at least one bird had penetrated into the cockpit; they declared an emergency and requested to return to the airport. After verifying aircraft control, the crew maneuvered back to the airport. The airplane landed uneventfully and taxied to a ramp. Examination of the airframe revealed a hole in the aircraft's forward fuselage below the cockpit windows. The fuselage skin and forward pressure bulkhead were penetrated and contained bird matter. Bird matter was noted on the cockpit windows, fuselage, vertical and horizontal stabilizers, and in the left engine. The left engine fan blades were damaged and the spinner was buckled and collapsed. The bird remains were identified as American White Pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos), and the average mass for the bird is approximately 7,000 grams (15.4 pounds). At the time of the accident, the United States Air Force Bird Avoidance Model risk class was moderate for the local area.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.