What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
During departure under an IFR flight plan, N389HC was executing a right hand turn in accordance with approved ATC departure clearance, when at approximately 1500 ft AGL the aircraft impacted a buzzard. The impact was limited to the left horizontal stabilizer leading edge, and forward portion of the stabilizer. The impact damage was approximately 14 inches along the leading edge of the stabilizer. Skin wrinkling was observed aft of the damaged area, indicating possible internal damage of the structure. The ASI was on-scene and observed the damage first hand. In discussing the damage with maintenance personnel, it was decided that the entire left horizontal stabilizer would have to be replaced due to the laminate over composite construction. No damage was observed to the left elevator or aircraft propeller. This was classified as an incident based on damage to the aircraft.
As the FAA filed it
DURING DEPARTURE UNDER AN IFR FLIGHT PLAN, N389HC WAS EXECUTING A RIGHT HAND TURN IN ACCORDANCE WITH APPROVED ATC DEPARTURE CLEARANCE, WHEN AT APPROXIMATELY 1500 FT AGL THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED A BUZZARD. THE IMPACT WAS LIMITED TO THE LEFT HORIZONTAL STABILIZER LEADING EDGE, AND FORWARD PORTION OF THE STABILIZER. THE IMPACT DAMAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 14 INCHES ALONG THE LEADING EDGE OF THE STABILIZER. SKIN WRINKLING WAS OBSERVED AFT OF THE DAMAGED AREA, INDICATING POSSIBLE INTERNAL DAMAGE OF THE STRUCTURE. THE ASI WAS ON-SCENE AND OBSERVED THE DAMAGE FIRST HAND. IN DISCUSSING THE DAMAGE WITH MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL, IT WAS DECIDED THAT THE ENTIRE LEFT HORIZONTAL STABILIZER WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED DUE TO THE LAMINATE OVER COMPOSITE CONSTRUCTION. NO DAMAGE WAS OBSERVED TO THE LEFT ELEVATOR OR AIRCRAFT PROPELLER. THIS WAS CLASSIFIED AS AN INCIDENT BASED ON DAMAGE TO THE AIRCRAFT.