McDonnell Douglas Helicopter Undifferentiated or Other Model
Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Flight Instructor; Flight Crew Rotorcraft
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 180; Flight Crew Total 7300; Flight Crew Type 2400
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Illness / Injury; Inflight Event / Encounter Bird / Animal
Air Traffic Control Provided Assistance; Aircraft Aircraft Damaged; Flight Crew Returned To Departure Airport; Flight Crew Requested ATC Assistance / Clarification; Flight Crew Landed in Emergency Condition; General Maintenance Action
Environment - Non Weather Related
After departure; level 500 MSL/AGL; bird came through right front window. Debris hit pilot and front two passengers. Passenger #2 (by doorway) had pieces of bird and Plexiglass hit his face and his glasses; as he put it; 'exploded off of my face.' I looked down and saw Passenger #1 (front middle seat by me as the pilot) holding a piece of Plexiglass in her hand and bleeding. I radioed the Tower and advised of the bird strike and that I was immediately returning to base (about 3 miles) since the aircraft didn't seem to be damaged except for a hole in the windshield. We returned to base with no issues with airworthiness and Passenger #1 was bleeding; so I wanted to get her medical attention as soon as possible. The bleeding [turned out] being very minor after we landed. She said her injury was only a scratch so self-diagnosed herself. Airport medical came and looked at her and she confirmed that she was fine. The hole in the right front window was approximately 20' x 24' and ZZZ wildlife officer came out and took blood and feather samples to determine the exact type of bird it was.
Helicopter pilot reported a large bird struck the aircraft shattering the canopy.