A CV240 flight crew experienced a bird strike followed by airframe buffeting while being vectored for approach. They continued to a landing without clearance because their radio had failed.

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Attributes
ACN	732803
Time
Date	200703
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : zzz.airport
State Reference	US
Altitude	msl single value : 2400
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : zzz.tracon tower : atl.tower
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Transport Low Wing 2 Turbojet Eng
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Navigation In Use	ils localizer only : xyl
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Route In Use	approach : instrument precision
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : multi engine pilot : atp pilot : commercial pilot : flight engineer pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 18.46 flight time total : 22500 flight time type : 18.46
ASRS Report	732803
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument pilot : multi engine
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 140 flight time total : 700 flight time type : 180
ASRS Report	732802
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe incursion : landing without clearance inflight encounter : birds
Independent Detector	other flight crewa other flight crewb
Resolutory Action	flight crew : landed as precaution
Consequence	other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Aircraft Environmental Factor
Primary Problem	Environmental Factor

Narrative:

After being cleared for an IFR approach at approximately 4 DME from the airport in IMC; we heard a loud noise and encountered strong buffeting as we were handed off from approach to tower. While dealing with the in-flight emergency; we attempted to contact tower twice; but received no response. We elected to land without a landing clearance; as we were unable to determine the cause of the buffeting. After landing we cleared the runway onto a non-movement area and contacted the tower via telephone. Upon exiting the aircraft; a postflt inspection found right inboard leading edge damage consistent with the buffeting experienced in-flight. The communication radio was checked and found inoperative and replaced by maintenance. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: the airframe buffeting was quite severe. After landing; there was significant damage noted to the leading edge. The bird strike opened a hole in the skin of the leading edge requiring maintenance action to repair it.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A CV240 FLT CREW EXPERIENCED A BIRD STRIKE FOLLOWED BY AIRFRAME BUFFETING WHILE BEING VECTORED FOR APPROACH. THEY CONTINUED TO A LANDING WITHOUT CLEARANCE BECAUSE THEIR RADIO HAD FAILED.

Narrative: AFTER BEING CLRED FOR AN IFR APCH AT APPROX 4 DME FROM THE ARPT IN IMC; WE HEARD A LOUD NOISE AND ENCOUNTERED STRONG BUFFETING AS WE WERE HANDED OFF FROM APCH TO TWR. WHILE DEALING WITH THE INFLT EMER; WE ATTEMPTED TO CONTACT TWR TWICE; BUT RECEIVED NO RESPONSE. WE ELECTED TO LAND WITHOUT A LNDG CLRNC; AS WE WERE UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE BUFFETING. AFTER LNDG WE CLRED THE RWY ONTO A NON-MOVEMENT AREA AND CONTACTED THE TWR VIA TELEPHONE. UPON EXITING THE ACFT; A POSTFLT INSPECTION FOUND R INBOARD LEADING EDGE DAMAGE CONSISTENT WITH THE BUFFETING EXPERIENCED INFLT. THE COM RADIO WAS CHKED AND FOUND INOP AND REPLACED BY MAINT. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: THE AIRFRAME BUFFETING WAS QUITE SEVERE. AFTER LANDING; THERE WAS SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE NOTED TO THE LEADING EDGE. THE BIRD STRIKE OPENED A HOLE IN THE SKIN OF THE LEADING EDGE REQUIRING MAINTENANCE ACTION TO REPAIR IT.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 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.