Narrative:

Aircraft established on ILS runway 9R pontiac, mi, on 1 1/2 mi final, pelting rain began due to convective activity, 5-7 NM nne of the airport (VMC prior). The PNF activated the windshield wipers (500 ft AGL). The ILS approach was continued using flight director assistance. As the aircraft approached the 1000 ft fixed distance markers, a flock of sea gulls (approximately 20-30 birds) flew from that area. As the aircraft was already flaring for landing striking the birds was unavoidable. Due to rain/windshield wiper interference, it was not possible for the PF to see the bird hazard. The first officer stated that he did not see the bird hazard until the flare for landing had been initiated, and observed birds in go around path. The aircraft struck several birds, resulting in damage to the right wing. The rest of the landing roll was normal, no directional control problems. The pontiac tower did not advise of any potential bird strike hazard. The runway 9R touchdown zone area is highly visible from the tower. The airport manager obviously knows that there is a bird problem. By failing to advise the air crew of birds on the runway, a potentially lethal situation was created. There was very light traffic at the airport. Luckily, the only damage was to the right wing! Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: reporter stated that the dents in the wing leading edge were not classified in the accident category even though there was several thousand dollars to fix the wing. He did talk further with the tower controller regarding an advisory, and was informed that there was an area shielded from the controller's view in which the birds were located. Also advised that the airport authority/authorized had a bird ratification program in affect.

Google
 

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: BEECH 300 CPR PLT STRUCK SEA GULLS DURING LNDG FLARE CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE R WING LEADING EDGE.

Narrative: ACFT ESTABLISHED ON ILS RWY 9R PONTIAC, MI, ON 1 1/2 MI FINAL, PELTING RAIN BEGAN DUE TO CONVECTIVE ACTIVITY, 5-7 NM NNE OF THE ARPT (VMC PRIOR). THE PNF ACTIVATED THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS (500 FT AGL). THE ILS APCH WAS CONTINUED USING FLT DIRECTOR ASSISTANCE. AS THE ACFT APCHED THE 1000 FT FIXED DISTANCE MARKERS, A FLOCK OF SEA GULLS (APPROX 20-30 BIRDS) FLEW FROM THAT AREA. AS THE ACFT WAS ALREADY FLARING FOR LNDG STRIKING THE BIRDS WAS UNAVOIDABLE. DUE TO RAIN/WINDSHIELD WIPER INTERFERENCE, IT WAS NOT POSSIBLE FOR THE PF TO SEE THE BIRD HAZARD. THE FO STATED THAT HE DID NOT SEE THE BIRD HAZARD UNTIL THE FLARE FOR LNDG HAD BEEN INITIATED, AND OBSERVED BIRDS IN GAR PATH. THE ACFT STRUCK SEVERAL BIRDS, RESULTING IN DAMAGE TO THE R WING. THE REST OF THE LNDG ROLL WAS NORMAL, NO DIRECTIONAL CTL PROBS. THE PONTIAC TWR DID NOT ADVISE OF ANY POTENTIAL BIRD STRIKE HAZARD. THE RWY 9R TOUCHDOWN ZONE AREA IS HIGHLY VISIBLE FROM THE TWR. THE ARPT MGR OBVIOUSLY KNOWS THAT THERE IS A BIRD PROB. BY FAILING TO ADVISE THE AIR CREW OF BIRDS ON THE RWY, A POTENTIALLY LETHAL SIT WAS CREATED. THERE WAS VERY LIGHT TFC AT THE ARPT. LUCKILY, THE ONLY DAMAGE WAS TO THE R WING! CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: RPTR STATED THAT THE DENTS IN THE WING LEADING EDGE WERE NOT CLASSIFIED IN THE ACCIDENT CATEGORY EVEN THOUGH THERE WAS SEVERAL THOUSAND DOLLARS TO FIX THE WING. HE DID TALK FURTHER WITH THE TWR CTLR REGARDING AN ADVISORY, AND WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS AN AREA SHIELDED FROM THE CTLR'S VIEW IN WHICH THE BIRDS WERE LOCATED. ALSO ADVISED THAT THE ARPT AUTH HAD A BIRD RATIFICATION PROGRAM IN AFFECT.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 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.