The pilot of a Glasair Sportsman GS-2 was temporarily blinded after his aircraft took a direct hit from a wedge-tailed eagle at 5,500 feet. Wedge-tailed eagles typically weigh between seven and eight pounds. The incident, reported by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB), serves as another reminder of the substantial damage and adverse effects to an aircraft’s performance and handling qualities that can result from a bird strike.
Pilot Blinded in Bird Strike
Key Takeaways:
- A pilot flying a Glasair Sportsman GS-2 was temporarily blinded and suffered serious facial injuries after a wedge-tailed eagle struck his aircraft's windscreen at 5,500 feet.
- The bird strike caused a rapid descent and the pilot transmitted a MAYDAY, but he eventually regained control despite his injuries and initial blindness.
- The pilot successfully landed the damaged aircraft at Bathurst Airport, underscoring the significant dangers and potential for severe damage from bird strikes.
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