Wildlife at the airport

[chrisk]

I came back from a cross country trip last weekend.  The tower first warned me of birds on the end of the runway:  Buzzards on the ground and on the last 1/4th of the runway (edge).  The next warning was for the coyote on a cross runway who was stalking the buzzards.   After landing (and turning off well before the birds), the coyote finally got close enough to the birds for them to fly.  --Now, that would have made a mess on a go around.

[Piloto]

Animals on the runway is not rare at unattended fields. This is why before coming in for landing at night I fly low over the runway looking for animals on it. Cows have tendency to lay on the runway at night to stay away from mosquitos. Cows are the hardest one to get moving. Plan on landing during daytime. Or you may end up with fresh baby back ribs on your arrival.

 

José

[Seth]

Jose-

 

If you are arriving at night, do you conduct a low approach first to ensure there is no wildlife on the runway?  During the daytime, do you conduct a low approach as well (buzz the field) and then land?

 

What is normal procedure for you at fields that are known to have wildlife?

 

-Seth

[cliffy]

I once broke out at 200 feet on a rainy night and just as I was flaring the runway seemed to "lift up". Seems hundreds of seagulls has used the runway for a roost. The airport manager went out and picked up 22 of them. They were bouncing off the windshield like baseballs. I ducked below the panel as I was rolling out.

[Piloto]

Jose-

 

If you are arriving at night, do you conduct a low approach first to ensure there is no wildlife on the runway?  During the daytime, do you conduct a low approach as well (buzz the field) and then land?

 

What is normal procedure for you at fields that are known to have wildlife?

 

-Seth

 

During daytime you can see them on downwind. You can try buzzing them and then come back for landing if the animal moves out. Beware that some may be just dead. And you may have to look for another field to land. The important thing is verifying that there is no obstruction on the runway. Your pick up party may help you if the animal is not dead. At one time I though about putting a blasting horn on the belly. Beware that some wild horses like to kick on airplanes. And big birds love to drop big ones on your waxed Mooney. On hot sunny days is not rare for some animals take shade under the wing and leaving their scent. Beware where you park your plane or you may end up with bees or fire ants. Leaves vents closed or you may end up with an unexpected passenger

 

José

[Jim Peace]

 Leaves vents closed or you may end up with an unexpected passenger

 

José

On initial climb out once in a super cub I had many frogs jump at me from behind the panel.  These were banner planes kept in a grass field with many openings.  

 

Also once while flying lear charter we left the plane open while we went for lunch.  Came back to get things ready for departure and the local airport cat was sleeping on the pilot seat.

[Seth]

I remember a Mooney hit a deer in MD last year during a night landing - I think the member was on this board, but I forget.

 

-Seth

[cliffy]

Had a friend hit a deer at Grand Canyon Apt in Merlin. Bent the prop and engine mount. Didn't do the deer any good either.

[N601RX]

Deer are a big problem around here.  We always fly down the runway 1st at night.  The following happened about 14 years ago at the airport where I live.  The jet involved belonged to the Dallas Cowboys.

 

WRECKAGE EXAMINATION

Heavy black skid marks were noted beginning at the first taxiway turnoff about 1500 feet down the 5,010 foot runway. Two fragmented deer carcasses were found several hundred feet after impact. The skid marks continued for about 2,500 feet and departed the right side of the runway near the Instrument Landing System shack at the end of the runway and proceeded an additional 500 feet over grass and dirt. The airplane was found resting on its left side down an embankment. The cockpit section of the fuselage was crushed upward into the crew seats. The fuselage aft of the cockpit was consumed by the post crash-fire. Examination of the landing gear found all three gear collapsed and deer fur was found lodged in the squat switch on the left main landing gear. The right and left main tires had areas of rubber that were worn completely through. The flaps were found extended, and both thrust reverser’s were found in the stowed position. Examination of the cockpit found the throttles in idle, and the thrust reverser levers in the stowed position.

MEDICAL/PATHOLOGICAL INFORMATION

Both pilots were hospitalized with serious injuries. There was no toxicology analysis conducted.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

With an estimated empty weight of 15,800 pounds and estimated fuel of 1,100 pounds, it was calculated that the airplane traveled 1500 feet down the runway after touchdown in 4.2 seconds before striking the deer, the performance group at Learjet using the weather reported at Troy, Alabama (variable winds and temperature at 14 degrees Celsius) the airplane landed with a ground speed of 124 knots. At 124 knots and maximum braking applied, the airplane should have come to a complete stop in about 850 feet.

A sound spectrum study was conducted using the Cockpit Voice Recorder as the source of the sound. The study was conducted by the National Transportation Safety Board's Vehicle Recorders Division. The study revealed that the engines fan speed increased from 8727.5 (82.3 percent) rpm to 9590 (90.4 percent) rpm between 11 seconds after touchdown and 18.2 seconds after touchdown. This increase in fan speed does not achieve the calculated takeoff N1, however, this engine speed is higher than achievable on a reverse thrust schedule. According to Pratt and Whitney of Canada, N1 is governed during reverse operations. The governing limit varies, and is based on ambient conditions and the airspeed. At 100 knots or greater, the maximum governing limit for N1 should be about 85.2 percent (according to Bombardier Aerospace) instead of the 90 percent found on the engines 20.4 seconds after landing.

Normal operating procedures include deploying the thrust reversers within 4 to 6 seconds after landing. Pilots deploy thrust reversers (T/R) by raising piggyback levers located in the cockpit with the throttles. With the loss of the squat switch on the left main landing gear, the T/R relay box deenergized the deploy solenoid and the T/R's go to the stow position. The electronic engine control (EEC) commands the engine speed to go to idle. As the T/R's complete the stow cycle, the unlock switches open, signaling the T/R relay box to remove the discrete signals. The EEC's switch to the forward thrust schedule and within 2.6 seconds estimated, and if the piggybacks remain at the max reverse position the engines rpm begins to increase to near takeoff power.