Engine Bird Strike

! typical indications for an engine bird strike are audible thuds on the airframe, increase in engine EGT, engine surge, engine vibrations and unpleasant odors from the air conditioning system.

Each engine bird strike or rabbit ingestion causes different damage to the engine, but in most cases results in engine surge and/or engine failure.

ENGINE BIRD STRIKE IN APPROACH

! While it is common for pilots to include an engine failure escape procedure in their takeoff briefing, you should also always be prepared for an engine failure on final, often caused by bird strike!
Admit to yourself, are you mentally prepared to handle an engine bird strike during a bad weather or low visibility approach? Did you crosscheck the single engine climb gradient performance to follow the published go-around routing or what will be your escape route?

DUAL ENGINE BIRD STRIKE
If both engines lose power after hitting a flock of birds, return back to the basics of single piston engine flying : ‘ABC’

• Airspeed : Maintain the approprate airspeed for the actual configuration. Do not level off to avoid terrain, maintain safe airspeed for a controlled landing.

• Best landing site : If you intend to return to the departure airfield, remember that stall speed increases in a turn. Consider an off-airport landing or even ditching.

• Checklist : There isn’t much you can do after a dual engine bird strike, except for securing the engines by pulling both fire switches. So I would rather take the ‘C’ for ‘Cabin’. Advise the cabin crew and the passengers to take the brace position.

If this event occurs on final approach with flaps 30/40 and speed is sufficient, consider retracting the flaps to 15 and maintain outer bug to increase airplane gliding distance.