During a night currency/proficiency flight last night (10 pm) I hit something about 3200' MSL (2200AGL) and 130ish knts. A 2 part thunk that made me think I lost a piece of my new cowling or a wheel pant. I was less than 10 miles out from a planned stop & go so I continued inbound for a full stop, the airplane behaved normally and temps were all in range so I began to suspect I hit a bird or very large bug. I landed and taxied under a hangar security light and found the problem, luckily no damage I could find from the main impact on the front of the cowling or the secondary impact on the scoop. No evidence of it hitting the prop at all.
I'm thinking it was a bird due to the wider impact area and blood but no feathers either.
It almost looks like blood on one side by my thumb and bird poop on the other by my index finger.
I'm thinking it was a bird due to the wider impact area and blood but no feathers either.
It almost looks like blood on one side by my thumb and bird poop on the other by my index finger.