What happened
On May 13, 2018, a Piper PA-2SB-161, registration EC-GEG, was conducting a flight verification for a single-engine piston (SEP) rating revalidation near the Contreras reservoir in Valencia, Spain. The flight, operated by a private owner and involving a pilot being examined and a flight examiner, departed from Requena aerodrome.
While performing maneuvers at approximately 4,500 feet, the crew first spotted a vulture approaching from the right. The examiner took control and successfully performed an evasive maneuver to avoid a collision. However, moments later, a second bird crossed the aircraft's path from left to right at the same altitude. The crew attempted to avoid a frontal impact by reducing power to idle and maneuvering the aircraft downward and to the left. While this prevented a cockpit impact, the bird struck the tip of the right wing.
The investigation
The investigation examined the flight sequence, the aircraft's structural integrity, and the environmental conditions. The crew reported that the impact caused the wingtip to detach, along with deformations to the leading edge, the outer rib, and the aileron. Following the strike, the crew checked the flight controls, found them to be functioning correctly, and decided to return to Requena, where they landed without further difficulty.
Investigators noted that the crew had proactively increased their altitude from 3,500 to 4,500 feet earlier in the flight after spotting several birds, which aligned with safety recommendations for bird strike avoidance. The investigation also looked into local bird populations, noting that while environmental authorities saw no significant change in vulture distribution, local pilots had reported an increase in sightings near the aerodrome.
Findings
- The incident was caused by a mid-air collision with a large bird, likely a vulture.
- The impact resulted in the loss of the right wingtip and structural damage to the right wing's leading edge and aileron.
- The crew's decision to return to the departure airfield was appropriate given the aircraft's continued controllability.
- The flight training organization (ATO) operating at the airfield had already implemented measures, such as increasing flight altitudes and restricting training in certain areas, to mitigate the risk of bird strikes.