ACFT HIT DITCH WHILE TAXIING AND STRUCK PROP.

Narrative

HAVING LANDED E TO W ALONG A COUNTY DIRT ROAD PARALLELING HI-VOLTAGE XMISSION LINES WITH A L QUARTERING XWIND MOVING THE PLANE TOWARD THE PWR LINES ON THE R. I WAS NERVOUS AND ELATED AT ACHIEVING MY GOAL. TAXIING DOWN THE ROAD TOWARD A TIE DOWN AREA (BLADED OFF ON THE PVT LAND BY THE PARTY WE WERE VISITING) I FAILED TO NOTICE THE ONLY DRAINAGE CUT ALONG THIS ROAD LAY BTWN MYSELF AND THE INTENDED TIE DOWN. THE NOSEWHEEL ENTERED THE DEPRESSION (DRAINAGE CUT) AND THE PROP FLUNG DIRT AND ROCKS IN ALL DIRECTIONS. WHILE NONE OF THE ONLOOKERS WERE INJURED THIS EVENT COULD HAVE HAD SOME SERIOUS RESULTS AFFECTING OTHERS LIVES AND PROPERTY. I BELIEVE THAT I FAILED TO REMEMBER I WAS STILL 'FLYING THE PLANE' EVEN THOUGH IN TAXI PHASE. WHILE I'LL NOT ENTIRELY FORGET THIS INCIDENT; I BELIEVE THE ONLY WAY I COULD HAVE AVOIDED IT WAS TO BE AS PREPARED FOR THE TAXI AND TIE-DOWN PHASE AS I WAS PREPARED FOR THE XCOUNTRY; NAV; AND METEOROLOGICAL ASPECTS. THE OWNER'S STATEMENT THAT HE HAD 'BLADED OFF A TIE-DOWN AREA' FOR ME WAS TAKEN AT THE LEVEL THAT HE KNEW WHAT HE WAS DOING. SINCE HE IS A NON-PLT; I ERRED IN TRUSTING HIS STATEMENT TO IMPLY A SAFE AND NORMAL ACCESS TO THE TIE-DOWN.