Bird Strike

[Seth]

I had my first (and hopefully last) birdstrike about a week ago (I'll post the picture soon).  It was a 6000 feet at 7PM about 4-8 miles NorthEast of Richmond, VA (RIC).  Skies were clear, and it was pretty dark.  A loud whack/thump sound really wakes you up (and no, I wasn't a Northwest pilot).  I check all readings, and everything was fine.  I looked at the windshield, and on the co-pilot side there was a smear, I turned on the cabin light, but that wasn't much help, so I pulled out my flashlight and low and behold, red/white/grey smear.  I'll post the picture I took upon landing soon.

It was probably the size of a sparrow, as there was no damage.  It seems to have bounced of the top of the cowling smacked the windshield, and then hit the leading edge of the co-pilot side horizontal stabilizer.  No dents, just a few feathers and guts on the plane. 

I've never hit any thing with my car before (except family and friends on purpose), so though I know I'm pretty luck, I'm not happy that I killed something that naturally flies.  I still don't know what a small bird was doing in pitch blackness at six thousand feet.

Any other similar birdstrikes?  I know someone posted some crazy pictures about a strike through the tail - I didn't search for it.

Just glad to be okay.

[The-sky-captain]

Weird story... I hit a bird on my FIRST lesson. We were on about a 1/2 mile final and I was nervous as all get out trying to figure out the whole power/pitch thing to land the plane. All of a sudden a bird bounces off the windscreen (which of course I blamed the ensuing porpoise on:)

[Cruiser]

I had one on an early morning takeoff, pre dawn. It was just getting light. Pretty much the same as you, cowling and lower right copilot side of the windshield, no damage. A non event.

[FlyDave]

You know, birds don't fly in the clouds...so does that make IFR flights safer than VFR flights?

(c'mon, a little levity can't hurt)

[Piloto]

Quote: FlyDave

You know, birds don't fly in the clouds...so does that make IFR flights safer than VFR flights?

(c'mon, a little levity can't hurt)

[KSMooniac]

Scott Cutler hit a goose in his J a few years back:  http://www.mooneycaravan.com/mooneycaravan/goose.aspx

The M20F that I flew in my last year of college had a similar goose strike in 1990 or 1991 and needed a new vertical stab. 

Last Saturday I was on final to KGOP (Gatesville TX) on a warm, gusty day and there were several hawks or large birds thermalling and hunting, and one was coming directly at me for a short period, so I was prepared to pull up when at the last second he tucked his wings and dove below me.  That is about as close as I've come.  <knocking on wood>

[Buster1]

I always told by student's to climb as a basic reaction.  That action usually wont over G the jet, and besides, the birds are briefed to dive!  It works!

[georgeb]

Not always. I had an encounter a bit over a year ago with 2 small birds (pigeon/crow size) ...I climbed and turned left..they did indeed dive and I thought all was good...never felt or heard any kind of impact, but when I landed I had the lower torzo (waist down if they had a waist) of one of the birds wedged between the dorsal and empenage. Bummed me out....As a matter of fact, this thread just reminded me of it....I'm going to church now

George