Primary finding
Probable cause
An in-flight collision with a bird while enroute.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The pilot reported that while flying about 1,500 ft above ground level, a large bird struck the right side of the airplane and the right main landing gear separated from its attachment point. The pilot flew back to the airport and performed a soft field landing in the grass adjacent to the taxiway. Post accident examination revealed substantial damage to the right side of the fuselage.