The pilot of the multiengine Piper PA23 reported that, on a descending vector for a visual instrument landing system approach on an instrument flight rules flight plan, about 2,500 to 2,800 feet mean sea level, he “felt the aircraft shudder, along with a loud bang.”
He disengaged the autopilot to determine if the flight controls were affected and looked for damage on the wing and nose area, but no damage was observed.
He continued to the airport in Tampa, Florida, and landed without further incident. During the landing, a waiting aircraft reported they saw damage to the vertical stabilizer.
Probable Cause: An in-flight collision with a bird during the approach, which resulted in damage to the vertical stabilizer.
This March 2019 accident report is provided by the National Transportation Safety Board. Published as an educational tool, it is intended to help pilots learn from the misfortunes of others.
RE The accident report and photo.
I have worked numerous MIL aircraft bird strikes. Usually there are feathers and an explosion and smear of blood-and-guts embedded in the leading edges/interior, trailing-aft down the sides.
I do NOT see obvious bird remains in the one accident photo attached. The structural damage is also very curious… I would not characterize it as a bird strike.
Also, there was no [obvious] attempt to ID the bird species and size, IE: from identifiable body parts…claws, beak, feathers, etc]… which could be helpful for area bird alerts… species specific avoidance briefings.
I will second that thought on the suspicious lack of bird remains. With such damage there should be significant evidence of bird tissue and fluids present both inside and outside that opening in the vertical tail and yet there are none. While there is no evidence to support it I can’t help but think about a possible drone strike. Other then another aircraft, what could an aircraft hit at near 3000′ that does not leave a mess all over the point of impact. Unless of course this is ground damage and the pilot took off with the aircraft in that state which would be very risky and down right stupid.
I will add that with that picture in evidence, how could they write the incident off as a bird strike and not at least mention the other much more likely cause of a drone strike.
Birds come in 2 ounce and 20 pound sizes. Bird brains expect 40 mph other birds not 150 mph airplanes. Low altitude near airports there are a lot of birds. Above 200 feet expect bigger birds.
Yéars ago a P210 was in the shop for repairs. The bird strike happened about 12,000 MSL in Dodge City area. The bird penetrated the windscreen on the right side and lodged in the aft bulkhead. The pilot was solo and other than buying new underpants…