What happened
On 30 December 2001, a DHC-8-311, registration G-BRYJ, was performing a scheduled passenger flight departing from Aberdeen Airport. The aircraft took off from Runway 34 at 15:29 UTC, during the period of dusk. At the time of departure, the local weather was characterized by light snow, visibility of 4,000 metres, and the presence of cumulo-nimbus clouds.
Following takeoff, air traffic control provided radar vectors to the north-west and then to the west. As the aircraft climbed through 8,000 feet, it was struck by lightning. This strike resulted in the immediate tripping of both engine-driven DC generators. The crew promptly notified air traffic control of the strike and the electrical issue. After leveling the aircraft and maneuvering away from the weather, the crew followed the procedures outlined in the Quick Reference Handbook (QRH), which successfully re-instated both generators.
Due to the nature of the event, an emergency (PAN) was declared. The aircraft returned to Aberdeen Airport, where the crew completed a standard instrument approach and landed safely. There were no injuries to the 4 crew members or 45 passengers on board.
The investigation
The investigation was based on the aircraft accident report provided by the pilot and a subsequent damage assessment conducted by the operator's maintenance organization. Physical inspections of the aircraft identified several areas of damage caused by the electrical discharge. Specifically, the radome and both cockpit windscreens sustained damage significant enough to require full replacement. Additionally, investigators found burn marks on the left horizontal stabiliser and the upper section of the fuselage, which necessitated repairs following the manufacturer's approved schemes.