Civil Aircraft Windscreen Damage Due to Birdstrikes,
Abstract
Brief details are presented of all known cases world wide of penetration of civil aircraft windshields. The information is divided into: (a) transport aircraft (piston engine aircraft are excluded), (b) twin engined general aviation aeroplanes, (c) single engined aeroplanes, and (d) helicopters. Windshield design requirement criteria are summarized. Examination of the data shows that penetration of transport aircraft windshields is extremely rare and damage to the outer pane is very rare (in Europe one per 1.5 million flying hours). There would appear to be little justification for a change in the current 1.8 Kg (4 lb) bird design requirement. There have been three fatal windshield penetrations on twin engined general aviation aircraft and six cases of injury. Many of the birds were large. The trend towards single pilot operations carrying a significant number of passengers (up to 22) may suggest a need for windshield design requirements, even though the rate of penetration is not high.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Dec 01, 1983
- Accession Number
- ADP003214
Entities
People
- J. Thorpe