On October 12, 2007, a Bombardier, Inc. CL-600-2C10 (registration N368CA) was involved in an aviation accident near Denver, CO. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: the in-flight collision with geese shortly after takeoff. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
An aircraft struck a flock of about 30 geese at 1,500 feet, causing right engine roughness and damage to the fan and leading edge wing slats. The crew declared an emergency and returned to the airport.
Incident Overview
During flight at an altitude of approximately 1,500 feet above the ground, the aircraft encountered a flock of about 30 geese. The crew reported hearing three to four thuds, after which the right engine immediately began running roughly. In response, the captain declared an emergency and initiated a return to the departure airport.
Damage Examination
A post-flight inspection of the aircraft revealed damage to the right engine fan and dents along both leading edge wing slats. The damage was consistent with a bird strike event involving multiple birds.
Bird Advisory
Approximately one hour before the incident, the airport's Automatic Terminal Information Service (ATIS) had issued a bird advisory, indicating the presence of birds in the vicinity. The crew did not report any prior awareness of the advisory affecting their flight path.
