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 was temporarily blinded and suffered serious facial injuries when a wedge-tailed eagle struck his Glasair Sportsman GS-2 at 5,500 feet, penetrating the left side of the windscreen.
- Despite being seriously injured and experiencing a rapid descent, the pilot regained control, transmitted a MAYDAY, and successfully landed the damaged aircraft at Bathurst Airport.
- The incident serves as a stark reminder of the substantial damage and adverse effects bird strikes can have on aircraft performance, handling, and pilot safety.
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