What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
A Piper PA-44-180 twin engine land, fixed wing aircraft, departed rwy 5 at 13:40 local time and reported a birdstrike at 13:43 local time, returning to laf without further incident. Once parked at the ramp, the pilot inspected the aircraft and reported a “cracked tail”.
The bird was later found and reported to be a turkey vulture.
Inspector performed investigation on-site, and determined this to be an incident due to minor denting damage that appears localized to the vertical stabilizer leading edge. Inspector inspected entire aircraft exterior, including engine cowlings and propellers, for hidden damage or damage to additional areas, and no additional damage could be found.
Note: NTSB has classified this as an accident per their current guidance. The associated number is: CEN23LA384
As the FAA filed it
A PIPER PA-44-180 TWIN ENGINE LAND, FIXED WING AIRCRAFT, DEPARTED RWY 5 AT 13:40 LOCAL TIME AND REPORTED A BIRDSTRIKE AT 13:43 LOCAL TIME, RETURNING TO LAF WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT. ONCE PARKED AT THE RAMP, THE PILOT INSPECTED THE AIRCRAFT AND REPORTED A “CRACKED TAIL”.
THE BIRD WAS LATER FOUND AND REPORTED TO BE A TURKEY VULTURE.
INSPECTOR PERFORMED INVESTIGATION ON-SITE, AND DETERMINED THIS TO BE AN INCIDENT DUE TO MINOR DENTING DAMAGE THAT APPEARS LOCALIZED TO THE VERTICAL STABILIZER LEADING EDGE. INSPECTOR INSPECTED ENTIRE AIRCRAFT EXTERIOR, INCLUDING ENGINE COWLINGS AND PROPELLERS, FOR HIDDEN DAMAGE OR DAMAGE TO ADDITIONAL AREAS, AND NO ADDITIONAL DAMAGE COULD BE FOUND.
NOTE: NTSB HAS CLASSIFIED THIS AS AN ACCIDENT PER THEIR CURRENT GUIDANCE. THE ASSOCIATED NUMBER IS: CEN23LA384
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.