Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine
Distraction; Fatigue; Other / Unknown
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Inflight Event / Encounter Bird / Animal
Aircraft Aircraft Damaged; General Flight Cancelled / Delayed; General Release Refused / Aircraft Not Accepted; General Maintenance Action
Aircraft; Human Factors; Procedure
The First Officer discovered evidence of a bird strike near the fan blades on the number 2 engine during his preflight originating walk around the morning of [date]. We discovered that we flew the aircraft into ZZZ the previous night and it terminated. Thus; we assume that we must have had a bird strike on the previous flight that went undiscovered when the FO (First Officer) did his post flight walk around the previous evening. Evidence of the bird strike was some dried blood; but no feathers or other remains were visible. I called Maintenance Control; and they had Contract Maintenance come to the aircraft. Upon further inspection; I noticed a bend on the tip of the #9 fan blade that was not easily noticeable. Unfortunately; the bend was greater than allowed tolerances; so the flight was cancelled.The Crew Member that does a post flight walk around needs to take additional time to ensure no evidence of a bird strike on a terminating flight. Catching bird strike evidence early provides unnecessary delays the following day.
Flight crew reported finding evidence of a bird strike on aircraft during morning walk around inspection.