A PASSANGER; A MILITARY FUEL SYSTEM TECHNICIAN; NOTES A POSSIBLE PROBLEM WITH THE FLTS CONTINUATION TO DEST AFTER A BIRD STRIKE ON THE STARBOARD ENGINE OF A B-737 AFTER TKOF FROM SMF; CA.

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ON DEC/XA/00; ABOARD FLT DEPARTING SACRAMENTO; CA; BOUND FOR HOUSTON; TX; THERE WAS AN INCIDENT WHICH DESERVES SOME ATTN. I WAS SEATED IN A SEAT ON THE R SIDE OF THE ACFT; JUST AFT OF THE INLET OF THE #2 ENG. SHORTLY AFTER WE BROKE GND IN SACRAMENTO; AND AROUND THE TIME OF THE LNDG GEAR RETRACTION; THERE WAS A JOLT WHICH SHOOK THE ENTIRE ACFT; INCLUDING THE #2 ENG WHICH I IMMEDIATELY OBSERVED. WITHIN 1 MIN; THE CABIN WAS FILLED WITH THE SMELL OF SOMETHING BURNING AND A SLIGHT HAZE SETTLED IN FROM THE AIR CONDITIONING SYS. THE FLC BEGAN LOOKING ABOVE THE BAGGAGE COMPARTMENTS AND OUT THE WINDOWS FOR ANY INDICATIONS OF WHAT MIGHT BE WRONG. NEEDLESS TO SAY; I WAS A BIT SHAKEN UP. MOMENTS LATER; THE PLT ANNOUNCED OVER THE INTERCOM THAT A GOOSE HAD STRUCK THE BELLY OF THE ACFT; THAT THE ACFT WAS FINE; AND THAT WE WOULD BE PROCEEDING WITH OUR 3 HR 40 MIN FLT TO HOUSTON. I WAS INSTANTLY CONCERNED BECAUSE AS AN 8 YR ACFT MAINTAINER; FUEL SYS REPAIR IN THE MIL; I KNOW THAT THE AIR CONDITIONING SYS IS OPERATED WITH BLEED AIR FROM THE ENGS. THE PLT. OF ALL PEOPLE; SHOULD KNOW THIS. THE INSTANT THAT HE SAW OR HEARD THAT THERE WAS SMOKE IN THE CABIN; HE SHOULD HAVE; AND I WOULD SPECULATE HE DID IN FACT KNOW THAT SOMETHING HAD HAPPENED TO ONE OF THE ENGS. I DON'T KNOW FAA OR AIRLINE PROCS OR THE DURABILITY OF A B737'S ENGS. I WOULD; HOWEVER; HOPE THAT IF THE PLT KNEW OF THOUGHT IT PROBABLY THAT THERE WAS A BIRD STRIKE; HE WOULD SHUT THE ENG DOWN AT THE VERY LEAST. I DON'T SUPPOSE IT WOULD BE A VERY NICE PICTURE IF A TURBINE WHEEL DEPARTED FROM THE ENG. WITH ONLY 2 ENGS ON A B737; THE NEXT COURSE OF ACTION I WOULD HOPE FOR WOULD BE TO DECLARE AN INFLT EMER AND RETURN TO THE NEAREST LNDG STRIP. AS A PAX WITH NO CTL OF THE SIT; I WAS AN AM VERY ANGRY TO SAY THE LEAST THAT SOMEONE MADE A DECISION WHICH COULD VERY WELL HAVE COST ME MY LIFE.