Ryanair flight FR4102 accident occurred on 10 November 2008, at 06.56 ‘(07.56’ local), on the Rome Ciampino airport and involved the aircraft type B737-8AS registration marks EI-DYG.
On 10 November 2008, at 05.30′, the aircraft Boeing 737-8AS EI-DYG took off fromFrankfurt Hahn airport (EDFH) toRome Ciampino(LIRA), with 166 passengers and 6 crew members on board.
When approaching the destination airport, in a veryshort final, collided with a big flock ofstarlings.
At the sighting of the birds, the crew interrupted the landing procedure and performed a go-around maneuver, butboth enginesdid not deliver the needed thrust ; as a result, the aircraft rapidly lost speed and altitude and impactedheavily the runway.

During the ground run, the leftmain landing gearof Ryanair flight FR4102 was detached from its own anchorages and the lower part of the fan cowl of the left engine came into contact with the runway.
The aircraft continued its run on the ground until it was completely stopped, abeam the threshold of RWY 33.
The 6 crew members and the 166 passengers carried out the evacuationof the aircraft without further inconveniences.

The aeronautical literature, in the years following the event, underlined, through
articles, thecriticalityrelated to a go-around following a bird strike, for reasons e
considerations below:

• the real extent of damage to the aircraft (in particular engines) may not be manifest until it is decided to apply power;
• following a missed approach, the pilot could be in a situation in which the runway disappears under the nose of the aircraft, and at the same time, the same aircraft isnotin acondition to fly;
• to the revolutions of the engines characteristic of the approach phase, the damage can probably be within to the fan stageand do not affect the engine core;
• the highengine rpm with which would take place following an attempt to go around after passing into the flock could result in damagegreater to the engine and consequent loss of thrust.

The accident of Ryanair flight FR4102 was caused by an unexpectedloss of thrust on both enginesconsequent to a massive impact withbirds, during the go-around maneuver.
The loss of thrust prevented the crew from successfully carrying out the go-aroundand led the aircraft to a non-stabilized contact with the runway.

The following factorscontributed to the event:

• the inadequate effectiveness of thecontrolandscaring measures of the avifauna placed on the date of the accident, by the airport manager;
• the decision of the captain to carry out a go around when the aircraft was about7 seconds from the touchdown with the runway. This last decision was however significantly influenced:
  — by the lack of indications to the flight crew regarding theprocedures more suitableto be adopted in the case of single or multiple impacts with birds in the landing stage;
  — from the lack of specific crew training about “surprise” and “startle” effects in critical flight phases.