Skyhawk 172/Cutlass 172
Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Commercial; Flight Crew Multiengine
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 72; Flight Crew Total 330; Flight Crew Type 288
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical; Inflight Event / Encounter Bird / Animal
Flight Crew Landed in Emergency Condition
Environment - Non Weather Related
Upon entering the downwind for Runway XXR at ZZZ at XA:57 local time. We were at 1;000 ft. and we saw a white flash and a loud bang on the front of the engine. I immediately noticed a 100 RPM drop in my engine and me and my copilot who happens to be a CFI began to declare a mayday on the CTAF frequency. There was a plane taking off and they advised that they will circle south to allow us to land. We felt that the best decision would be to land immediately. So I decided to declare a mayday and to head straight to XYL. We landed a little bit long but we were not sure how much power we would have and for how long. But when we were clear of XYL at Taxiway R. We advised the aircraft in the pattern and taxied to the hanger. Once we shut down we discovered that there was a bird sticking out of the front nacelle of the engine compartment.
Pilot reported hitting a bird while on downwind.