What happened
On July 12, 2023, at approximately 10:25 local time, a Tecnam P2006T, registration EC-NCA, was conducting a dual flight instruction mission departing from Lleida/Alguaire Airport. The flight, operated by BAA Training, was intended to include local navigation and takeoff/landing practice before positioning the aircraft to Sabadelle for maintenance.
While climbing through approximately 2,200 feet (1,000 feet AGL) near waypoint 'N', the crew observed a large bird above the aircraft. Although the instructor initially attempted to maneuver the aircraft to the left to maintain separation, a large stork descended into the right engine nacelle. The impact caused significant damage to the leading edge of the wing, the nacelle, and the engine itself. Shortly after the strike, the right engine failed and stopped running.
Following the impact, the aircraft was unable to maintain its altitude despite the remaining engine operating at full power. The instructor attributed this descent to the aerodynamic drag caused by the structural deformation of the right wing. The crew managed the emergency by declaring an emergency with tower control and performing an engine-out approach to runway 13. The aircraft landed safely without further incident, and both the instructor and the student pilot were uninjured.
The investigation
The CIAIAC investigation examined the flight path, the aircraft's mechanical condition, and the local environmental factors. The investigation noted that the impact occurred approximately 9 km from the airport, an area outside the active range of the airport's bird control service.
Investigators analyzed the flight altitude in relation to the known flight patterns of local bird species. Research cited in the report indicates that white storks (Ciconia ciconia) frequently fly at altitudes between 1,000 and 3,000 feet AGL, placing them directly in the path of aircraft climbing out of the Lleida/Alguaire CTR. The investigation also reviewed the maintenance records of the Tecnam P2006T, finding that the engines and airframe were properly maintained according to manufacturer standards.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was the impact with a large stork.
- The impact caused critical damage to the right engine, leading to its total failure.
- The structural deformation of the right wing's leading edge created significant aerodynamic drag, preventing the aircraft from maintaining altitude on a single engine.
- The accident site is located in a known high-density area for avian activity, specifically near a composting plant that attracts large birds.
- The timing of the flight coincided with the period of highest risk for such collisions, as storks utilize thermal currents most actively between 10:00 and 16:00 during the summer months.