Summary
On 13 August 2016, around 11:00 local time, a Cessna 172 S registered F-HDKY was involved in a bird strike shortly after takeoff from Lognes aerodrome (Seine-et-Marne, France). The aircraft, operated by a local flying club, was on a private flight to Châlons-Vatry aerodrome. The sole occupant, the pilot, was uninjured and landed safely after declaring an emergency. The aircraft sustained substantial damage.
Flight Details
The pilot, aged 32, held a private pilot license with single-engine piston (SEP) and instrument rating (IR) qualifications, and had approximately 500 flight hours, including 6.5 hours in the preceding three months. After departing from runway 26, during initial climb at an altitude of about 200 feet, the pilot observed a flock of birds on the flight path. Despite identification, avoidance was not possible due to the large number of birds (several dozen) and the short time available. The birds struck the aircraft at multiple locations, including the propeller and right wing. The pilot noted no abnormal vibrations, declared an emergency, performed a low-height traffic pattern, and landed without further incident.
Aircraft Damage
Post-flight inspection revealed bloodstains on the windscreen and propeller, feathers lodged near the vertical stabilizer, and a significant dent on the right wing leading edge. The rib behind the leading edge was also damaged.
Bird Hazard at Lognes Aerodrome
Lognes is a controlled aerodrome located east of Paris, bordered by ponds and wooded areas to the east and southeast. The air traffic chief reported frequent bird presence over approximately 30 years. The initial climb path for runway 26 passes over a pond and then a wooded area; the pilot estimated the strike occurred at the beginning of the wooded zone.
The Visual Approach Chart (VAC) for Lognes indicates "NIL" under section 12 (Animal Hazard), meaning no permanent bird control measures. However, an occasional bird scaring service was available on request during weekday office hours (Monday to Friday, excluding holidays), provided by personnel of the airport operator (ADP) based at Lognes. Prior to 7 April 2011, the chart listed "Occasional, HO except Sat, Sun and holidays," implying permanent presence during those hours, but due to staffing constraints, the operator requested the change to "NIL" in amendment 05/11. Despite bird strikes reported by users at a 2013 safety meeting, the service level was not altered.
Automated Terminal Information Service (ATIS) broadcasts at Lognes systematically include a "Bird hazard" announcement, with "Strong bird hazard" when controllers deem the risk elevated. Controllers may request bird scaring during office hours.
Reporting and Safety Information
According to a study by the French Civil Aviation Technical Service (STAC) covering 2010-2013, the bird strike risk is highest in summer, and most incidents occur between 09:00 and 11:00. At Paris-Orly airport, 21 km from Lognes, pigeons pose the highest risk (level 3, the maximum). The study notes that events below 200 feet for arrivals and 500 feet for departures fall within the scope of airport wildlife control agents.
European regulation (EU) No 376/2014 requires pilots to report bird strikes via a CRESAG (General Aviation Safety Event Report) form. In this case, the pilot wrote a report on plain paper to the Lognes control tower and submitted a CRESAG to his flying club. However, the French Civil Aviation Authority (DSAC) did not receive the CRESAG. The French Air Navigation Service (DSNA) recorded eight bird strike events at Lognes between 2006 and 2015, mostly on weekends. Pilots reported awareness of unreported strikes, especially those without damage. The discrepancy between anecdotal reports and official statistics underscores the importance of systematic reporting for effective risk management.