Impact Locations and Damage to Civil and Military Rotary-wing Aircraft from Wildlife Strikes

Authors

• Brian E. Washburn, USDA National Wildlife Research CenterFollow
• Paul J. Cisar, U.S. Army
• Travis L. DeVault, USDA National Wildlife Research Center

Date of this Version

Spring 2017

Document Type

Article

Citation

Human–Wildlife Interactions (Spring 2017) 11(1): article 6 

doi: 10.26077/6yvw-8k56

Comments

United States government work. Public domain

Abstract

Rotary-wing aircraft (e.g., helicopters and tilt-wing aircraft) are an important component of all U.S. military services and the U.S. civil aviation industry. Our analyses of wildlife strikes to military rotary-wing aircraft, both within the United States and during overseas deployments, as well as civil helicopters, have shown there are important patterns within wildlife strike data for flight operations conducted on airfields and during off-airfield missions. Birds accounted for 93% of the wildlife strikes where the animal was identified, and mammals (primarily bats) accounted for 7%. Wildlife impacted all parts of civil helicopters and military rotary-wing aircraft during strike events; however, specific areas were impacted by wildlife with a higher frequency compared to others. We recommend airframe manufacturers and maintenance personnel consider reinforcing and redesigning rotary-wing aircraft windscreens and main rotor systems to better withstand the impact of wildlife.