What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
On 4/28/2017 at 1655 CST, a Cessna 172R, s/n 17280444, N259RA, operating as a 14 CFR part 91 pipeline patrol flight, struck a large bird approximately 15 miles north of David Wayne Hooks Airport, spring, TX (kdwh). The pilot stated that he was flying relatively low doing the pipeline patrol when he noticed 5-6 large birds. He attempted to avoid them, but one struck the left wing. He requested priority handling and landed without further incident at kdwh.
Initial investigation revealed that the left wing leading edge sustained damage approximately 3 feet long, extending from the landing light box outboard, and approximately 8 inches deep, up to but not damaging the wing spar. The damage extends from approximately wing station 116-152.
The aircraft records indicate that the last annual inspection was completed in accordance with the Cessna 172 maintenance manual on 12/12/2016, at airframe total tach time of 7556.7.
As the FAA filed it
ON 4/28/2017 AT 1655 CST, A CESSNA 172R, S/N 17280444, N259RA, OPERATING AS A 14 CFR PART 91 PIPELINE PATROL FLIGHT, STRUCK A LARGE BIRD APPROXIMATELY 15 MILES NORTH OF DAVID WAYNE HOOKS AIRPORT, SPRING, TX (KDWH). THE PILOT STATED THAT HE WAS FLYING RELATIVELY LOW DOING THE PIPELINE PATROL WHEN HE NOTICED 5-6 LARGE BIRDS. HE ATTEMPTED TO AVOID THEM, BUT ONE STRUCK THE LEFT WING. HE REQUESTED PRIORITY HANDLING AND LANDED WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT AT KDWH.
INITIAL INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE LEFT WING LEADING EDGE SUSTAINED DAMAGE APPROXIMATELY 3 FEET LONG, EXTENDING FROM THE LANDING LIGHT BOX OUTBOARD, AND APPROXIMATELY 8 INCHES DEEP, UP TO BUT NOT DAMAGING THE WING SPAR. THE DAMAGE EXTENDS FROM APPROXIMATELY WING STATION 116-152.
THE AIRCRAFT RECORDS INDICATE THAT THE LAST ANNUAL INSPECTION WAS COMPLETED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CESSNA 172 MAINTENANCE MANUAL ON 12/12/2016, AT AIRFRAME TOTAL TACH TIME OF 7556.7.