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Atlas / NTSB / DEN84FA021

NTSB CAROL · Event

Event DEN84FA021

1983-11-06 SIOUX FALLS, South Dakota, United States Airport · FSD Serious 1 aircraft Status: Completed

Registry · N7517U

FAA Aircraft Registry record.

Make / Model

ROBINSON HELICOPTER R22 BETA

TCDS

H10WE · ROBINSON HELICOPTER CO

Engine

LYCOMING O-360 SERIES (180 hp)

Seats / Engines

2 seats · 1 engine

Last airworthiness date

20031113

ADS-B equipped

Yes — Mode-S AA2120

Registrant of record

NG&C TRUCKING LLC

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

Factual narrative

THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH A BIRD DURING THE LANDING APPROACH AT NIGHT. THE CAPTAIN WHO WAS FLYING THE ACFT WAS STRUCK IN THE FACE BY THE BIRD AND FLYING GLASS. THE CO-PLT COMPLETED THE LANDING DUE TO INCAPACITATION OF THE CAPT. INVESTIGATIONREVEALED THE WINDSHIELD HAD BEEN PENETRATED BY A TWO POUND BIRD. CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS SPECIFY THAT THE WINDSHIELD WITHSTAND, WITHOUT PENETRATION, THE IMPACT OF A FOUR POUND BIRD AT CRUISE SPEED. THE ACFT WAS MOVING AT ABOUT 190 KTS AT THE TIME OF THE IMPACT. THE LANDING WAS COMPLETED BY THE CO-PLT WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_1983_DEN84FA021.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.