What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
On 11-9-2025 the pilot departed bhm approximately 1440 CST enroute to spi. The pilot was on descent approximately 30NM from spi at approximately 3000 ft at approximately 120 knots when the aircraft encountered a bird strike. The pilot reported possible damage to the right main landing gear. The pilot, out of concern that the right main gear may have had extensive damage, made several go arounds at spi to burn off fuel. Additionaly the pilot requested that the airport attempt to shine a light on the right main wheel during a flyby to see the extent of the damage. Spi reported that it was difficult to see the right main gear in the dark. The pilot continued to burn off fuel and at approximately 1910 CST the pilot landed on rnwy 31 at spi and rolled to a complete stop wihouth further incident. The aircraft was towed to the FBO at spi for storage.
Inititial inspection and pictures taken, show damage to the right upper and right lower engine cowling, right main gear fairing, and a small dent on the leading edge of the right wing root. The remains of what appeared to be a canadian goose was removed from the right main gear fairing. The spi airport authority completed a bird strike report and sent feathers and remains in for identification.
On 11-18-25 maintenance arrived to remove the engine cowling and assess the damage. There does not appear to be any substantial damage to the structure. There was no indication that the propeller was contacted by the bird(s). The damage to the right main gear appears to be just the fairing. It was determined, using 49 CFR 830 that this will be classified as an incident.
As the FAA filed it
ON 11-9-2025 THE PILOT DEPARTED BHM APPROXIMATELY 1440 CST ENROUTE TO SPI. THE PILOT WAS ON DESCENT APPROXIMATELY 30NM FROM SPI AT APPROXIMATELY 3000 FT AT APPROXIMATELY 120 KNOTS WHEN THE AIRCRAFT ENCOUNTERED A BIRD STRIKE. THE PILOT REPORTED POSSIBLE DAMAGE TO THE RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR. THE PILOT, OUT OF CONCERN THAT THE RIGHT MAIN GEAR MAY HAVE HAD EXTENSIVE DAMAGE, MADE SEVERAL GO AROUNDS AT SPI TO BURN OFF FUEL. ADDITIONALY THE PILOT REQUESTED THAT THE AIRPORT ATTEMPT TO SHINE A LIGHT ON THE RIGHT MAIN WHEEL DURING A FLYBY TO SEE THE EXTENT OF THE DAMAGE. SPI REPORTED THAT IT WAS DIFFICULT TO SEE THE RIGHT MAIN GEAR IN THE DARK. THE PILOT CONTINUED TO BURN OFF FUEL AND AT APPROXIMATELY 1910 CST THE PILOT LANDED ON RNWY 31 AT SPI AND ROLLED TO A COMPLETE STOP WIHOUTH FURTHER INCIDENT. THE AIRCRAFT WAS TOWED TO THE FBO AT SPI FOR STORAGE.
INITITIAL INSPECTION AND PICTURES TAKEN, SHOW DAMAGE TO THE RIGHT UPPER AND RIGHT LOWER ENGINE COWLING, RIGHT MAIN GEAR FAIRING, AND A SMALL DENT ON THE LEADING EDGE OF THE RIGHT WING ROOT. THE REMAINS OF WHAT APPEARED TO BE A CANADIAN GOOSE WAS REMOVED FROM THE RIGHT MAIN GEAR FAIRING. THE SPI AIRPORT AUTHORITY COMPLETED A BIRD STRIKE REPORT AND SENT FEATHERS AND REMAINS IN FOR IDENTIFICATION.
ON 11-18-25 MAINTENANCE ARRIVED TO REMOVE THE ENGINE COWLING AND ASSESS THE DAMAGE. THERE DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE ANY SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE STRUCTURE. THERE WAS NO INDICATION THAT THE PROPELLER WAS CONTACTED BY THE BIRD(S). THE DAMAGE TO THE RIGHT MAIN GEAR APPEARS TO BE JUST THE FAIRING. IT WAS DETERMINED, USING 49 CFR 830 THAT THIS WILL BE CLASSIFIED AS AN INCIDENT.