National Transportation Safety Board Printed on : 11/18/2010 5:58:00 PM

Washington, DC 20594

Brief of Accident

Adopted 12/08/2008

DEN08FA072
File No. 24438 04/08/2008 Colorado Spring, CO Aircraft Reg No. N483BA Time (Local): 12:05 MDT

Make/Model: Bombardier, Inc. / CL-600-2B16 Fatal Serious Minor/None

Engine Make/Model: General Electric / CF34-3B Crew 0 0 3
Aircraft Damage: Substantial Pass 0 0 2
Number of Engines: 2
Operating Certificate(s): None
Type of Flight Operation: Business
Reg. Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation

Last Depart. Point: Same as Accident/Incident Location Condition of Light: Day

Destination: WASHINGTON, DC Weather Info Src: Pilot
Airport Proximity: Off Airport/Airstrip Basic Weather: Visual Conditions
Lowest Ceiling: None
Visibility: 10.00 SM
Wind Dir/Speed:
Temperature (°C): Unk/Nr
Precip/Obscuration: No Obscuration; No Precipitation

Pilot-in-Command Age: 36 Flight Time (Hours)

Certificate(s)/Rating(s) Total All Aircraft: 7250

Airline Transport; Flight Instructor; Commercial; Flight Engineer; Multi-engine Land; Single-engine Land Last 90 Days: 88
Total Make/Model: 1850
Instrument Ratings Total Instrument Time: 577
Airplane

Prior to departure, the crew had not received any advisories regarding bird activity in the area, and the weather was sky clear with
light winds. On takeoff, the crew was given a clearance to a 150-degree heading and a climb to 10,000 feet mean sea level (msl). The
takeoff was normal and in accordance with company procedures. Approximately 2 minutes after takeoff and passing through 8,000 feet msl
and 230 knots, the crew noticed "large white birds." Immediately thereafter, the airplane impacted the birds. "At first there was a
loud bang, followed by a moderately loud wind noise." The crew realized at least one bird had penetrated into the cockpit; they declared
an emergency and requested to return to the airport. After verifying aircraft control, the crew maneuvered back to the airport. The
airplane landed uneventfully and taxied to a ramp. Examination of the airframe revealed a hole in the aircraft's forward fuselage below
the cockpit windows. The fuselage skin and forward pressure bulkhead were penetrated and contained bird matter. Bird matter was noted
on the cockpit windows, fuselage, vertical and horizontal stabilizers, and in the left engine. The left engine fan blades were damaged
and the spinner was buckled and collapsed. The bird remains were identified as American White Pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos), and
the average mass for the bird is approximately 7,000 grams (15.4 pounds). At the time of the accident, the United States Air Force Bird
Avoidance Model risk class was moderate for the local area.
Updated at Dec 8 2008 2:18PM
 Brief of Accident (Continued)

DEN08FA072
File No. 24438 04/08/2008 Colorado Spring, CO Aircraft Reg No. N483BA Time (Local): 12:05 MDT

OCCURRENCES

Initial climb - Birdstrike

FINDINGS

Environmental issues-Physical environment-Object/animal/substance-Animal(s)/bird(s)-Effect on equipment - C

Findings Legend: (C) = Cause, (F) = Factor

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The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident as follows.
the impact with a bird during initial takeoff climb.