What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
On 8/16/2023 at 1034 CDT, a Beech S35, s/n D-7866, was conducting a training flight when the aircraft struck a bird, sustaining substantial damage to the right wing. The aircraft was being operated as a 14 CFR part 91 flight, which originated and terminated at David Wayne Hooks airport (kdwh). The commercial rated pilot gave the following statement: we “were completing some high performance and complex training and finishing with some pattern work. On the departure leg @ kdwh of 35L at about 600’ MSL/450’ AGL we hit what we suspect to be a vulture on the right wing about 2 feet inboard of the wing tip. We experienced slight yaw to the right, informed tower of the situation and requested a precautionary expedited landing. We added 10 KTS of airspeed on approach and landing, after clearing the active, we copied down a number from tower, and taxied back to the ramp without difficulty”. The pilot indicated that he has filed an on-line bird strike report.
The outboard 3-4 feet of the right-hand wing showed extensive damage to the leading-edge skin, with the damage extending back to the wing spar. Several wing leading edge ribs were damaged, as well as the wing upper skin just aft of the spar, which may indicate possible damage to the wing spar.
The aircraft records indicate that the last airframe annual inspection was completed at airframe total time: 6553.8, on July 3, 2023. At the time of the accident, the aircraft had accumulated approximately 39.0 hours since the annual inspection.
When the NTSB report and any other additional information become available, this report will be amended as necessary.
As the FAA filed it
ON 8/16/2023 AT 1034 CDT, A BEECH S35, S/N D-7866, WAS CONDUCTING A TRAINING FLIGHT WHEN THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK A BIRD, SUSTAINING SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE RIGHT WING. THE AIRCRAFT WAS BEING OPERATED AS A 14 CFR PART 91 FLIGHT, WHICH ORIGINATED AND TERMINATED AT DAVID WAYNE HOOKS AIRPORT (KDWH). THE COMMERCIAL RATED PILOT GAVE THE FOLLOWING STATEMENT: WE “WERE COMPLETING SOME HIGH PERFORMANCE AND COMPLEX TRAINING AND FINISHING WITH SOME PATTERN WORK. ON THE DEPARTURE LEG @ KDWH OF 35L AT ABOUT 600’ MSL/450’ AGL WE HIT WHAT WE SUSPECT TO BE A VULTURE ON THE RIGHT WING ABOUT 2 FEET INBOARD OF THE WING TIP. WE EXPERIENCED SLIGHT YAW TO THE RIGHT, INFORMED TOWER OF THE SITUATION AND REQUESTED A PRECAUTIONARY EXPEDITED LANDING. WE ADDED 10 KTS OF AIRSPEED ON APPROACH AND LANDING, AFTER CLEARING THE ACTIVE, WE COPIED DOWN A NUMBER FROM TOWER, AND TAXIED BACK TO THE RAMP WITHOUT DIFFICULTY”. THE PILOT INDICATED THAT HE HAS FILED AN ON-LINE BIRD STRIKE REPORT.
THE OUTBOARD 3-4 FEET OF THE RIGHT-HAND WING SHOWED EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE LEADING-EDGE SKIN, WITH THE DAMAGE EXTENDING BACK TO THE WING SPAR. SEVERAL WING LEADING EDGE RIBS WERE DAMAGED, AS WELL AS THE WING UPPER SKIN JUST AFT OF THE SPAR, WHICH MAY INDICATE POSSIBLE DAMAGE TO THE WING SPAR.
THE AIRCRAFT RECORDS INDICATE THAT THE LAST AIRFRAME ANNUAL INSPECTION WAS COMPLETED AT AIRFRAME TOTAL TIME: 6553.8, ON JULY 3, 2023. AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT, THE AIRCRAFT HAD ACCUMULATED APPROXIMATELY 39.0 HOURS SINCE THE ANNUAL INSPECTION.
WHEN THE NTSB REPORT AND ANY OTHER ADDITIONAL INFORMATION BECOME AVAILABLE, THIS REPORT WILL BE AMENDED AS NECESSARY.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.
Other reports on N5874J · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.