The NTSB's Magic Goose Feather Story

NTSB Advisory
National Transportation Safety Board
Washington, DC 20594
February 12, 2009

FOURTH UPDATE ON INVESTIGATION INTO DITCHING OF US AIRWAYS JETLINER INTO HUDSON RIVER

The following is an update on the National Transportation Safety Board's investigation of US Airways flight 1549, which ditched into the Hudson River on January 15, 2009. The bird remains found in both engines of US Airways flight 1549 have been identified by the Smithsonian Institution's Feather Identification Laboratory as Canada Goose (Branta canadensis).

The lab made the identification for the NTSB through DNA analysis as well as through morphological comparisons in which feather fragments were compared with Canada Goose specimens in the museum's collections; the microscopic feather samples were compared with reference microslide collections.

A total of 25 samples of bird remains have been examined as of today. Additional analysis will be conducted on samples received from the NTSB to attempt to determine if the Canada Geese were resident or migratory. While no determination has been made about how many birds the aircraft struck or how many were ingested into the engines, an adult Canada Goose typically ranges in size from 5.8 to 10.7 pounds, however larger individual resident birds can exceed published records.

The accident aircraft was powered by two CFM56-5B/P turbofan engines. The bird ingestion standard in effect when this engine type was certified in 1996 included the requirement that the engine must withstand the ingestion of a four-pound bird without catching fire, without releasing hazardous fragments through the engine case, without generating loads high enough to potentially compromise aircraft structural components, or without losing the capability of being shut down. The certification standard does not require that the engine be able to continue to generate thrust after ingesting a bird four pounds or larger.

NTSB investigators worked closely with wildlife biologists from the United States Department of Agriculture, both at the scene of the accident in New York City and during the engine teardowns at the manufacturer's facility in Cincinnati, to extract all of the organic material that was identified today.

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NTSB Media Contact: Peter Knudson
(202) 314-6100
peter.knudson@ntsb.gov

NTSB Advisory
National Transportation Safety Board
Washington, DC 20594
February 4, 2009

THIRD UPDATE ON INVESTIGATION INTO DITCHING OF US AIRWAYS JETLINER INTO HUDSON RIVER

The following is an update on the National Transportation Safety Board's investigation of US Airways flight 1549, which ditched into the Hudson River on January 15, 2009.

The left (#1) engine, which was recovered from the Hudson River on January 23 and subsequently shipped to the manufacturer in Cincinnati where the NTSB is directing a teardown, was found to contain bird remains. The organic material found in the right (#2) engine has also been confirmed to be bird remains. The material from both engines has been sent to the Smithsonian Institution in Washington where the particular bird species will be identified.

As part of its investigation into this accident, the NTSB investigated an engine surge event that occurred in the right (#2) engine during a flight on January 13, two days prior to the accident. The engine recovered from the surge and the remainder of the flight was completed uneventfully. The NTSB determined that the surge was due to a faulty temperature sensor, which was replaced by maintenance personal following approved procedures. After the engine was examined with a boroscope and found to be undamaged and in good working order, the aircraft was returned to service.

On December 31, 2008, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued an Airworthiness Directive (AD) covering all CFM56-5B series turbofan engines, the same type that was on the accident aircraft. After examining the engine maintenance records and interviewing relevant personnel, the NTSB determined that all of the requirements of the AD were complied with prior to the accident flight.

During the accident flight, the flight data recorder revealed no anomalies or malfunctions in either engine up to the point where the captain reported a bird strike, after which there was an uncommanded loss of thrust in both engines.

Last week the aircraft was moved from the barge where it had been docked in Jersey City, NJ, to a secure salvage yard in Kearny, NJ, where it will remain throughout the NTSB investigation, which is expected to last 12-18 months.

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NTSB Media Contact: Peter Knudson
(202) 314-6100
peter.knudson@ntsb.gov



NTSB Advisory
National Transportation Safety Board
Washington, DC 20594
January 24, 2009

SECOND UPDATE ON INVESTIGATION OF DITCHING OF US AIRWAYS JETLINER INTO HUDSON RIVER

The following is an update on the National Transportation Safety Board's investigation of US Airways flight 1549, which ditched into the Hudson River on January 15, 2009.

The left engine, which had separated from the aircraft during the ditching, was recovered from the Hudson River on Friday afternoon, January 23, 2009. The initial external examination of the engine revealed dents on both the spinner and inlet lip of the engine cowling. Five booster inlet guide vanes are fractured and eight outlet guide vanes are missing. A visual examination of the engine did not reveal evidence of organic material; there was evidence of soft body impact damage.

Both of the engines will be boxed and shipped to the manufacturer in Cincinnati where NTSB investigators will oversee a complete tear-down of each engine. Advanced technology will be employed to detect any organic material not apparent during the initial visual examination.

Several NTSB investigators remain on-scene and are supervising Airbus technicians as the aircraft wreckage is prepared for long-term storage. This process includes removing the wings and the horizontal and vertical stabilizers. The aircraft wreckage will be shipped to a secure storage facility where it will remain available to the NTSB throughout the course of the investigation.

The NTSB wishes to acknowledge the support and cooperation of the numerous federal, state and local agencies that worked so closely with Safety Board investigators and were of great assistance throughout the entire on-scene phase of the investigation.

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Media Contact: Peter Knudson
peter.knudson@ntsb.gov
NTSB Public Affairs: 202-314-6100