Houston, TX, USA
N70TP
BEECH F33A
The pilot had just departed and was about 13 miles from the airport when he saw a large bird pass by the passenger side windshield. He did not feel or hear it strike the airplane, but within a few minutes of seeing the bird he began to smell a foul odor. The pilot visually confirmed that the bird had struck the leading edge of the right horizontal stabilizer causing substantial damage. The pilot made a 180-degree turn and landed uneventfully back at the departure airport.
The pilot had just departed and was about 13 miles from the airport when he saw a large bird pass by the passenger side windshield. He did not feel or hear it strike the airplane, but within a few minutes of seeing the bird he began to smell a foul odor. The pilot visually confirmed that the bird had struck the leading edge of the right horizontal stabilizer causing substantial damage. The pilot made a 180 degree turn and landed uneventfully back at the departure airport.
An in-flight collision with a bird during initial climb.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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