1999-11 · NASA ASRS report 455589
A BELL 206 HELI IN CRUISE AT 1200 FT FOR TFC WATCH DECLARED AN EMER AND DIVERTED DUE TO A DUCK STRIKING THE WINDSHIELD AND INJURING THE PLT AND RPTR.
AT APPROX XA20 I EXPERIENCED A BIRD STRIKE. WX CONDITIONS WERE CLR; VISIBILITY 10+ MI; AT NIGHT. I HIT A DUCK SQUARELY ON THE PLT'S SIDE OF THE ACFT (R SIDE IN A HELI). THE DUCK SHATTERED THE WINDSCREEN LEAVING AN APPROX 18 INCH DIAMETER HOLE IN THE WINDSHIELD. SPD AT TIME OF IMPACT WAS APPROX 90 KTS; ALT ABOUT 600 FT AGL. THE DUCK ENTERED THE COCKPIT STRIKING ME ON THE L ARM; AND CONTINUED TO THE REAR SEAT; STRIKING THE RPTR IN THE HEAD. MOMENTS AFTER I UNDERSTOOD THE SIT; I ASKED THE FRONT AND BACK SEAT TFC RPTRS IF THEY WERE INJURED. FRONT SEAT RPTR STATED SHE WAS OK; BUT THE BACK SEAT RPTR (WHOSE HEADSET WAS KNOCKED OFF BY IMPACT WITH THE DUCK) DID NOT RESPOND AND HAD A BLANK STARE ON HIS FACE. I CALLED ADDISON TWR; RPTED THE SIT AND REQUESTED AN AMBULANCE TO MEET ME ON LNDG TO ASSIST MY REAR SEAT PAX. I LANDED AT ADDISON ARPT; WAS MET BY EMER CREWS AND SENT THE REAR SEAT PAX TO A LCL EMER ROOM FOR ASSESSMENT. HE WAS CHKED; AND RELEASED AFTER ABOUT 1 HR. NO SERIOUS INJURIES WERE DETECTED.
Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.
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