MSAW when flight crew descended below minimum altitude of localizer approach to avoid birds.

Attributes
ACN	102856
Time
Date	198901
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : dtw
State Reference	MI
Altitude	msl bound lower : 2100 msl bound upper : 2600
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : dtw
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : cfi pilot : atp pilot : flight engineer
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 230 flight time total : 11000 flight time type : 4000
ASRS Report	102856
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 240 flight time total : 14000 flight time type : 10000
ASRS Report	102851
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter other non adherence : published procedure other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course flight crew : took evasive action
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

We were descending to 2600', cleared for the approach to 3L at dtw. While in the clouds and turning to intercept the localizer, we broke out of the overcast layer about 2800' MSL and observed a flock of birds at our 12 O'clock position. I continued the descent to evade to the birds and then climbed back to 2600' MSL. While climbing back up, approach asked to check our altitude.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: MSAW WHEN FLT CREW DESCENDED BELOW MINIMUM ALT OF LOCALIZER APCH TO AVOID BIRDS.

Narrative: WE WERE DSNDING TO 2600', CLRED FOR THE APCH TO 3L AT DTW. WHILE IN THE CLOUDS AND TURNING TO INTERCEPT THE LOC, WE BROKE OUT OF THE OVERCAST LAYER ABOUT 2800' MSL AND OBSERVED A FLOCK OF BIRDS AT OUR 12 O'CLOCK POSITION. I CONTINUED THE DSCNT TO EVADE TO THE BIRDS AND THEN CLIMBED BACK TO 2600' MSL. WHILE CLIMBING BACK UP, APCH ASKED TO CHECK OUR ALT.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of August 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.