SW3 suffers multiple bird strikes on instrument approach. Goes around and diverts to a VFR airport.

Attributes
ACN	794002
Time
Date	200806
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : zzz.airport
State Reference	US
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Weather Elements	Turbulence Fog Windshear
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : zzz.tracon
Operator	general aviation : corporate
Make Model Name	Merlin III
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	descent : approach landing : missed approach
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : corporate
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : cfi pilot : commercial pilot : atp pilot : multi engine
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 28 flight time total : 15650 flight time type : 2025
ASRS Report	794002
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : birds inflight encounter : weather inflight encounter other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : diverted to another airport flight crew : executed go around
Consequence	other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Aircraft Environmental Factor Weather
Primary Problem	Environmental Factor

Narrative:

On approach to ZZZ; ILS runway ab at low minimums. Everything seemed normal. After spotting runway for landing; aircraft encountered severe downdraft with a high rate of vertical speed. Attempted to go to full power around when I heard a loud bang and proceeded to go around. I believe I had hit a flock of geese or something else. Performed go around and requested to go to the airport that had the best WX in the area at that time. Made a normal special VFR approach to ZZZ. Landing was normal. When I arrived at the gate; I noticed damage to right gear door and right propeller and belly antennas.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SW3 SUFFERS MULTIPLE BIRD STRIKES ON INSTRUMENT APCH. GOES AROUND AND DIVERTS TO A VFR ARPT.

Narrative: ON APCH TO ZZZ; ILS RWY AB AT LOW MINIMUMS. EVERYTHING SEEMED NORMAL. AFTER SPOTTING RWY FOR LNDG; ACFT ENCOUNTERED SEVERE DOWNDRAFT WITH A HIGH RATE OF VERT SPD. ATTEMPTED TO GO TO FULL PWR AROUND WHEN I HEARD A LOUD BANG AND PROCEEDED TO GO AROUND. I BELIEVE I HAD HIT A FLOCK OF GEESE OR SOMETHING ELSE. PERFORMED GAR AND REQUESTED TO GO TO THE ARPT THAT HAD THE BEST WX IN THE AREA AT THAT TIME. MADE A NORMAL SPECIAL VFR APCH TO ZZZ. LNDG WAS NORMAL. WHEN I ARRIVED AT THE GATE; I NOTICED DAMAGE TO R GEAR DOOR AND R PROP AND BELLY ANTENNAS.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of May 2009 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.