Created Monday, Sep 6th 2021 06:25Z, last updated Wednesday, Mar 30th 2022 18:46Z
A KLM Boeing 777-300, registration PH-BVK performing flight
KL-590 from Accra (Ghana) to Amsterdam (Netherlands), was accelerating for takeoff from Accra's runway 03 when the crew rejected takeoff at high speed (about 145 knots over ground) due to a bird strike at about 22:39L (22:39Z). The aircraft slowed safely, vacated the runway at the end and became disabled on the parallel taxiway due to a number of tyres deflating. The aircraft was towed to the apron about 30 minutes after becoming disabled on the taxiway.
The airport reported the aircraft rejected takeoff from runway 21 due to a bird strike near the windshield. The aircraft was subsequently towed to the apron. The passengers disembarked and were taken to various hotels.
ADS-B data transmitted by the transponder of the aircraft make clear the aircraft was accelerating for takeoff from runway 03 and rejected takeoff at about 145 knots over ground.
Passengers reported they were told one of the engines (GE90) ingested a bird prompting the takeoff to be rejected. The right hand main tyres deflated during taxiing back to the apron.
Ghana's AIB have opened an investigation into the occurrence.
The aircraft remained on the ground in Accra for about 27:15 hours, then departed as flight
KL-590D and reached Amsterdam with a delay of 27.5 hours about 2 hours after the regular flight
KL-590 of Sep 4th 2021 (performed by PH-BVA).
On Dec 21st 2021 the Dutch Onderzoeksrrad/Safety Board (DSB) reported the aircraft rejected takeoff as result of a bird strike, two tyres were punctured, two more tyres deflated due to wear. The DSB provided assistance to Ghana's AIB.
Ghana's AIB released their final report concluding the probable causes of the incident were:
The causal factors include:
1. The loud impact noise of the bird strike.
2. The uncertainty about the aircraft’s ability to fly safely.
The contributing factors include:
1. Season.
2. The time of the flight.
3. Nocturnal feeding habits of the bird.
The AIB analysed:
During the take-off roll of flight KL 590 on the 3rd of September 2021, the crew heard a loud impact noise due to a bird strike and initiated an RTO as a result of the Captain’s uncertainty of the aircraft’s safety for flight. “Bird remains” cleaned by the KLM Maintenance engineers from the area underneath the Captain’s number 2 window is proof that the subject aircraft was struck by a bird(s).
This is confirmed by the “bird remains” picked up from the runway after the RTO and the Captain’s report of the observation of birds before the incident occurred.
...
It is evident that the African Wattled Lapwing (Vanellus Senegallus) was involved in the incident. The Lapwing is widespread in sub-Saharan Africa and commonly feeds at night.
Records also indicate that the bird remains found after the incident on the runway were that of the African Wattled Lapwing. These birds are resident while breeding, but might move over distances during the rainy season.
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