37000 Feet

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Engine compressor stalls began after ducks impacted the right engine of an air carrier aircraft on short final to mslp's runway 7. The engine was shutdown after landing as the crew taxied to the gate.

Narrative:

Approaching 100 ft AGL landing on runway 7 at mslp (sal); first officer flying; we observed three ducks crossing flight path left to right flying in the same general direction as the airplane; somewhat below the aircraft. Moments after; the ducks disappeared under the nose. We felt and heard two or three impacts with the aircraft followed moments later by the commencement of compressor stalls in the right engine evidenced by repeating loud chuffing noises and airframe vibrations. Engine instruments were not radically abnormal (there was no time to note the exact parameters) and there was no indication of fire or severe damage. Being only ten seconds from landing; we elected to continue the landing in a normal manner. Moments after the commencement of compressor stalls we could smell burning coming from the air conditioning system. Upon touchdown we used only idle reverse and the first officer wisely decided to use increased braking to make the earliest practical turnoff from the runway. Once the power had been reduced to idle; the compressor stalls ceased. Upon exiting the runway we shut down the right engine immediately and taxied normally to the gate. The burning smell dissipated after the right engine shutdown. Because of the possibility that there were more ducks than we had seen; I instructed the mechanic to inspect the entire aircraft; including the right engine for evidence of further bird strikes.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: Engine compressor stalls began after ducks impacted the right engine of an air carrier aircraft on short final to MSLP's Runway 7. The engine was shutdown after landing as the crew taxied to the gate.

Narrative: Approaching 100 FT AGL landing on Runway 7 at MSLP (SAL); First Officer flying; we observed three ducks crossing flight path left to right flying in the same general direction as the airplane; somewhat below the aircraft. Moments after; the ducks disappeared under the nose. We felt and heard two or three impacts with the aircraft followed moments later by the commencement of compressor stalls in the right engine evidenced by repeating loud chuffing noises and airframe vibrations. Engine instruments were not radically abnormal (there was no time to note the exact parameters) and there was no indication of fire or severe damage. Being only ten seconds from landing; we elected to continue the landing in a normal manner. Moments after the commencement of compressor stalls we could smell burning coming from the air conditioning system. Upon touchdown we used only idle reverse and the First Officer wisely decided to use increased braking to make the earliest practical turnoff from the runway. Once the power had been reduced to idle; the compressor stalls ceased. Upon exiting the runway we shut down the right engine immediately and taxied normally to the gate. The burning smell dissipated after the right engine shutdown. Because of the possibility that there were more ducks than we had seen; I instructed the Mechanic to inspect the entire aircraft; including the right engine for evidence of further bird strikes.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of April 2012 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.