What happened
On July 20, 2024, at approximately 08:11 JST, a Bombardier DHC-8-402, registration JA858A, was completing its landing roll on Runway 32 at Tsushima Airport in Nagasaki Prefecture. The aircraft, operating as a scheduled flight for Oriental Air Bridge Co., Ltd., was carrying 36 passengers and 4 crew members.
As the aircraft decelerated near Taxiway T-2, a bird took flight from the right side of the runway. Although the flight crew observed the bird, the impact occurred before evasive action could be taken. The aircraft was traveling at an airspeed of approximately 75 knots when the bird struck the right propeller. There were no injuries reported among the 40 people on board.
The investigation
The Japan Transport Safety Board (JTSB) examined the physical damage to the aircraft and the environmental conditions at the time of the event. Investigators identified a black kite, measuring roughly 40cm in length and weighing approximately 1kg, which had been fragmented upon impact.
Technical inspection of the Bombardier DHC-8-402 revealed substantial damage requiring major repairs. Specifically, the tip of the second blade on the right propeller was missing approximately 8cm of material. Additionally, the impact caused a dent in the right fuselage, measuring 14.5cm by 13.0cm, and resulted in cracks to the ice shield—a protective aramid fiber composite plate. Bloodstains from the bird were found on both the propeller and the fuselage area.
Findings
- The bird strike occurred during the landing roll, a phase of flight where the crew's ability to maneuver the aircraft to avoid wildlife is significantly limited.
- The rotation of the propeller accelerated the bird into the aircraft's fuselage, leading to the structural damage observed.
- Standard bird sweep patrols, utilizing firearms and fireworks, had been conducted at the airport within the 30-minute window prior to the aircraft's arrival.