AAIB investigation to AW109SP, G-SCAP
Bird strike followed by successful landing with no injuries, Wycombe Air Park, Buckinghamshire, 7 July 2021.
Summary:
The helicopter sustained a bird strike whilst climbing through approximately 1,900 ft at 150 kt. Bird remains entered the cockpit through the broken upper transparency, but the pilot and passengers were uninjured.
The Agusta Westland AW109 transparencies are not designed to withstand bird strikes and the design certification requirements do not require them to do so. Proposed amendments, specifically to the certification of Small Rotorcraft, were published in EASA NPA 2021-02 to change this for newly designed rotorcraft. An EASA rule making group is also considering retrospective application to existing fleets and/or to future production of already type certified rotorcraft.
The AAIB recently reported on another similar event involving an Agusta Westland 109SP, registration G-TAAS (AAIB Bulletin 8/2021).
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