Did this fall from the sky?

TIKS on 09/03/2017 - 19:03
Last edited 11/03/2017 - 09:49 by 1 other user

Wife was coming home from picking kids up from school, no cars around, no houses around, next minute front window of car smashed. A bolt has hit it and rolled down window and rested near wipers. It's a high tensile Tamper Resistant Torx bolt and has damage from where it hit window. There are no other signs of damage so my theory of a lawn mower or something hitting it flicking it up are out the window.

I've slapped up some pics below. She was approx 1km from the Ballarat Airport when it happened. I went and showed the bolt to the mechanics over there and they said it's not something they use but said Ultralights may use them. He also added to damage the thread it wouldn't surprise him if it fell from a much higher height. Looking at the window and where the bolt rested, plus the smashed glass all went straight down rather than back into the wife the mechanic is confident it has fallen from height and hit the car.

Whats people thoughts on this? I have no idea who to contact or what to do, the only thing I know is exactly the time and location that it happened.

https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B1HSKXwlPqE7bl9abkYxekxkWW…
https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B1HSKXwlPqE7TEM5OEplWjAtQ0…
https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B1HSKXwlPqE7cjJZajBfYjMxd2…
https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B1HSKXwlPqE7enliTTA4NEt2dG…
https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B1HSKXwlPqE7dzJVQV9ZampEWU…

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  Gunther on 09/03/2017 - 19:45

  Lots of damage for the size, that thing was definitely travelling at terminal velocity.

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  TIKS on 09/03/2017 - 19:46

  Thats what the Aircraft mechanic at Ballarat Airport said.

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  Stewardo on 09/03/2017 - 23:23

  Space junk

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  Ryanek on 10/03/2017 - 08:17

  +1

  I would just be grateful it didn't hit my wife.

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  TIKS on 10/03/2017 - 10:13

  Yeah I am grateful for sure. Just also concerned there may be an ultralight with an important bolt missing flying around. Lol.

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  doctordv8 on 11/03/2017 - 11:45

  Thankfully no injuries. That is a High Tensile Torx Drive retainer bolt… yes, and as such, it would take a hell of of force to show any real damage to that bolt. Was it dropped from an overpass, thrown from somewhere? So, it could be flung from a mower or such, but from the sky……. It should have Lock Wire holes…..but does not.

  Terminal Velocity is reached after X meters, and given the car was also doing X k's per hour, the POI speed would be tremendous. If it was from an aircraft, it would of gone thru the screen and the plastic dash into the metal frame.
  Ex RAAF and near 40 trade career, says to me……not from the sky…….but I will not put money on it.

  Might have to keep searching on where it came from…..you might tell the police, so at least you have details up to date for the insurance, if need be, and to satisfy everyone curiosity if you do find the answer.
  Even whack it on YouTube for a worldly response…..can't hurt.

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  TIKS on 11/03/2017 - 17:25

  Not near an overpass or any houses for it to be thrown, the mower idea was my first thought but not really anywhere someone could have been mowing, plus the mower blade hitting it would damage the bolt. The only damage to the bolt is from the window strike. I will continue my search thats for sure. Thanks for your advice, much appreciated.