No fatalities

6 Jun 2018: BELLANCA 7ECA NO SERIES — ProFlite of Alaska, LLC — Fairbanks, AK

Fairbanks, AK, United States

On 6 Jun 2018, a BELLANCA 7ECA NO SERIES operated by ProFlite of Alaska, LLC was involved in an aviation accident near Fairbanks, AK. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The airplane’s collision with a bird while maneuvering. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 12 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

SourcesNTSBPrimary reportUpdated 1778583330Data APIEditorial standards

A pilot reported a bird strike during steep turn practice, causing substantial damage to the windscreen, windows, and greenhouse; the pilot landed safely, and post-accident examination revealed the greenhouse was incorrectly installed.

Incident Details

According to the pilot, he was practicing a steep turn maneuver when a bird struck the airplane's windscreen. The impact occurred during the steep turn. The airplane remained controllable throughout the event. The pilot was able to return to the airport and land without further incident.

Damage

The bird strike resulted in substantial damage to the forward windscreen, the side windows, and the greenhouse structure.

Post-Event Examination

After the landing, Federal Aviation Administration Aviation Safety Inspectors performed an examination of the airplane. The inspection specifically identified that the greenhouse had been installed incorrectly. This finding was noted in the inspection report.

Pilot Statement

The pilot reported that no mechanical malfunctions or failures were present in the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

Contributing factors

Effect on equipmentEffect on operation