What happened
On October 6, 2016, a Bombardier DHC-8-Q400 operating a scheduled airline flight was on approach to land on runway 11 at Warsaw Chopin Airport (EPWA). During the approach, the aircraft struck a bird. The impact occurred at the front of the aircraft, specifically in the area of the nose cone.
Following the incident, a special inspection of the aircraft was conducted. This inspection revealed no damage to the airframe or components.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the circumstances surrounding the strike and the environmental conditions at the time. It was established that the prevailing meteorological conditions did not contribute to the occurrence of the event.
Findings
The investigation determined that the primary cause of the incident was the presence of a bird on the aircraft's flight path.
Safety action
In response to increased bird activity, the operator implemented several preventive measures, including:
- Increased inspections of the airport maneuvering area.
- Monitoring of the airport vicinity for pigeon breeding sites.
- Adjustments to the settings of the stationary BirdGard bird dispersal system.
- Ongoing inspections of the airport perimeter and fencing integrity.
- Culling of wildlife identified as a threat to flight safety.