Incident Overview

Date: Friday 17 May 1996
Aircraft Type: de Havilland Canada DHC-8-103
Owner/operator: National Jet Systems
Registration Number: VH-JSI
Location: near Broome, WA – ÿ Australia
Phase of Flight: En route
Status: Substantial, repaired
Casualties: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 17
Component Affected: Left wing fairings, electrical components, nosewheel steering, anti-skid and normal braking systems, and ground spoiler deployment systems.Left wing fairings, electrical components, nosewheel steering, anti-skid and normal braking systems, and ground spoiler deployment systems.
Investigating Agency: BASIBASI
Category: Accident
On December 16, 2023, an aviation incident occurred when an Airbus A380 was struck by a wedge-tailed eagle during a descent approach. The aircraft sustained damage to its leading edge, including punctured wing fairings and damage to electrical components. The incident resulted in system failures, including failed instrumentation, a malfunctioning caution panel, and a loss of directional control. The aircraft ultimately landed on runway 10, exhibiting a loss of control during the landing roll. The incident highlights a failure in redundancy and procedural adherence.On December 16, 2023, an aviation incident occurred when an Airbus A380 was struck by a wedge-tailed eagle during a descent approach. The aircraft sustained damage to its leading edge, including punctured wing fairings and damage to electrical components. The incident resulted in system failures, including failed instrumentation, a malfunctioning caution panel, and a loss of directional control. The aircraft ultimately landed on runway 10, exhibiting a loss of control during the landing roll. The incident highlights a failure in redundancy and procedural adherence.

Description

The Dash 8 was passing 4,800 feet on descent to Broome at 243 knots indicated air speed when it struck a wedge-tailed eagle. The bird impacted the leading edge at the root of the left wing. The wing-to-fuselage fairing was punctured and the forward wing spar and the electrical components attached to the spar were damaged. The left engine instrumentation failed and the master caution panel indicated multiple systems failures. The crew shut down the left engine 2 minutes and 9 seconds after the bird strike when the aircraft was passing through 1,860 feet at a speed of 220 knots. The left main landing gear unsafe warning light illuminated when the landing gear was extended. The crew discontinued the landing approach and elected to hold between 5 NM and 10 NM north-west of the aerodrome while they checked the aircraft systems. Thirty-seven minutes after the bird strike, the aircraft was landed on runway 10. During the latter part of the landing roll, the pilot in command was unable to maintain directional control through the nosewheel steering. He attempted to slow the aircraft using reverse thrust on the right engine and the normal brakes, but the brakes failed. The aircraft veered off the sealed runway to the right before the pilot stopped it, using the emergency brake system. SIGNIFICANT FACTORS: 1. The aircraft struck a 10 kg wedge-tailed eagle. 2. The left engine instrumentation failed and the master caution panel indicated multiple system failures. 3. System redundancy was compromised when the wiring was damaged, resulting in the failure of the left weight-on-wheels signal to the proximity switch electronic unit. 4. The nosewheel steering, anti-skid and normal braking, and ground spoiler deployment systems were rendered inoperative. 5. The crew did not follow company procedures by not using checklists to resolve non-normal situations.

Primary Cause

Systemic failure due to compromised redundancy and lack of adherence to established procedures.Systemic failure due to compromised redundancy and lack of adherence to established procedures.

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