Aircraft damaged after experiencing bird strike on takeoff in a night operation.

Attributes
ACN	259452
Time
Date	199312
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : stl
State Reference	MO
Altitude	agl bound lower : 150 agl bound upper : 150
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : stl
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Heavy Transport
Navigation In Use	Other Other
Flight Phase	climbout : initial climbout : takeoff
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : flight engineer pilot : instrument pilot : commercial pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 250 flight time total : 20200 flight time type : 2700
ASRS Report	259452
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : less severe conflict : airborne less severe inflight encounter other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	other
Supplementary
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

As we retracted gear on takeoff experienced bird strike. No engine indications, no aircraft vibrations were experienced. Flight was continued to destination, normal landing and taxi to gate was accomplished, where damage to nose area and radome was discovered. Considerations for burning off fuel were analyzed versus flight time to accomplish. Decision was made to continue based on that knowledge and consideration.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACFT DAMAGED AFTER EXPERIENCING BIRD STRIKE ON TKOF IN A NIGHT OP.

Narrative: AS WE RETRACTED GEAR ON TKOF EXPERIENCED BIRD STRIKE. NO ENG INDICATIONS, NO ACFT VIBRATIONS WERE EXPERIENCED. FLT WAS CONTINUED TO DEST, NORMAL LNDG AND TAXI TO GATE WAS ACCOMPLISHED, WHERE DAMAGE TO NOSE AREA AND RADOME WAS DISCOVERED. CONSIDERATIONS FOR BURNING OFF FUEL WERE ANALYZED VERSUS FLT TIME TO ACCOMPLISH. DECISION WAS MADE TO CONTINUE BASED ON THAT KNOWLEDGE AND CONSIDERATION.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.