Incident Overview
During a landing approach, the certificated commercial pilot was entering a left downwind for runway 18 when a brown object passed in front of the windshield from left to right and struck the right wing. The pilot reported that the approach continued normally, and a standard landing was executed without further incident.
Damage Assessment
Company maintenance personnel conducted an inspection and found substantial damage to the right wing's leading edge and rib assemblies. The leading edge skin was crushed back to the forward portion of the spar, according to the pilot's submitted report (NTSB form 6120.1/2). The entire leading edge between the tip cap and outboard of the wing strut attach point required replacement.
Findings
Embedded in the damaged section of the wing were what appeared to be goose feathers. The presence of these feathers, along with the pilot's account of a brown object striking the wing, indicates a collision with a bird during the approach phase.