Air carrier flight crew reported a rejected takeoff due to a bird strike and engine failure.

Date: 2025-01 · Aircraft: B767 Undifferentiated or Other Model · Phase: takeoff

Anomalies: aircraft-equipment-problem-critical|inflight-event-encounter-bird-animal

Synopsis

Air carrier flight crew reported a rejected takeoff due to a bird strike and engine failure.

Narrative

I was the Relief Pilot for flight ZZZ-ZZZZ. While on the takeoff roll; I was cross checking the aircraft instruments; engine parameters; EICAS; and at approximately 160 knots I heard a bang coming from the right side of the aircraft and I felt a very subtle yaw. I immediately glanced my eyes at the EICAS; and noticed the right engine EPR (Engine Pressure Ratio) surging. As the bang was heard by the whole crew; the Captain of the flight took over control over the aircraft and initiated the reject procedures. The First Officer notified tower that we were rejecting the takeoff on runway XXR at ZZZ and requested crash and fire rescue assistance. Tower immediately responded to our request and informed us that he saw a flash coming out from the right engine. As the First Officer was running the rejected takeoff checklist; I made the remain seated; remain seated" PA to the cabin and took over communications with ATC and purser. I asked the tower if they saw any smoke or fire coming from the aircraft; and the answer was "no". Once the rejected takeoff checklist was complete; we coordinated with ZZZ Maintenance and CFR (Crash Fire Rescue); and we were towed back to gate XXX. When the situation was under control and we were waiting for the super tug to tow us back to the gate; the crew mentioned they saw a bird flying across our path at aircraft's nose height. Appropriate logbook entries were made. Once parked at the gate the whole crew debriefed the event."

Second reporter narrative

The pre-loaded aircraft information appears to be incorrect. I think the information was for a later re-crewed flight. All events leading up to the subject event were completely normal; certainly nothing that impacted or led to this event. I was well-rested and the pilot flying.ZZZ tower cleared us to Line up and Wait XXR for landing traffic on one of the perpendicular runways. We taxied into position and told Cleared for Takeoff. I advanced the power as normal; began rolling; Autothrottles;" power continued to advance; "Check Thrust;" and continued to accelerate. As I was expecting to hear V1; I noticed a small bird in my lower periphery from left to right. Well within a couple of seconds; I heard a pop in what I thought was the engine. The Captain took the aircraft and executed the reject from around 160kts. I made the call to Tower "rejecting RWY XXR;" Tower asked if we needed assistance; I asked them to please roll the trucks. Looking back; that was probably the wrong terminology; but they knew what I wanted. The tower also said they saw a flash from the right engine just prior to the abort. We were able to taxi off XXR onto Taxiway 1 where we started the Rejected Takeoff checklist which obviously included shutting down the right engine. Fire Command arrived and while the captain and I worked the checklist; the Relief Pilot communicated with them. BTMS (Brake Temperature Monitoring System) indicated a 9 on one of the right wheels and a few 8's elsewhere. I completed the checklist (we obviously chose not to evacuate; everything was under control; no fire) to the point of waiting the 60 minutes to taxi (we assumed that applied if we chose to taxi under our own power which was not the case) and we chose not to shut the left engine down since the minimal thrust from the left engine was enough to prevent us rolling fore or aft without the brakes applied. Constant communication with the flight attendants and the passengers was done by the Relief Pilot and the occasional comments and explanation from the captain.After about 25-30 minutes; a super-tug arrived; got into position; we shut down the engine; they connected and towed us to the gate. By the time we got the gate and with the ambient temperature; all brakes were no more than 4 on the BTMS"

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Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.