On 30 Dec 2015, a PIPER PA 28-161 was involved in an aviation accident near Fort Worth, TX. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: An inadvertent collision with a bird while on downwind in the airport pattern. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 12 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.
A flight instructor reported a bird impact on the right leading edge of the horizontal stabilizer while on left downwind. The aircraft landed safely but post-accident examination revealed substantial damage to the stabilator.
Incident Details
A flight instructor, serving as the pilot in command, reported that while the aircraft was in the left downwind leg of the traffic pattern, a bird struck the right leading edge of the horizontal stabilizer. The instructor continued the approach and landed the aircraft without further incident.
Examination
A post-accident examination of the wreckage was conducted. The examination revealed substantial damage to the stabilator, which is the combination horizontal stabilizer and elevator control surface. The damage was localized to the area of the bird impact.
Findings
The flight instructor reported that there were no pre-impact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. The bird strike was the only anomaly noted during the flight. No other factors were identified as contributing to the event.