On 20 Feb 2017, a PIPER PA 28R 201 operated by WESTWIND AVIATION INC. was involved in an aviation accident near Phoenix, AZ. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: An in-flight collision with a bird. 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 with the left wing at about 800 ft AGL during maneuvers. The aircraft returned to the airport without further incident; postaccident inspection revealed substantial wing damage.
Incident Overview
A flight instructor was performing maneuvers at approximately 800 feet above ground level when a bird struck the left wing of the airplane. The instructor reported the impact and subsequently returned to the airport without any further issues.
Postaccident Examination
Following the landing, a postaccident examination of the aircraft was conducted. The inspection revealed substantial damage to the left wing. No mechanical malfunctions or failures that could have interfered with normal operation were identified prior to the accident.
Additional Details
The flight instructor did not report any preaccident mechanical problems with the airplane. The bird strike occurred during routine training maneuvers, and the instructor was able to safely land the aircraft. No additional information regarding the aircraft type, registration, or other specifics was provided in the initial report.