C182 PVT PLT WAS DISTR WHILE TAXIING AND HIT RWY LIGHT WITH PROP. RPTR THOUGHT HE HIT IT WITH A WHEEL AND CHKED VISUALLY. FLT WAS CONTINUED AND PROP DAMAGE DISCOVERED AFTER LNDG.
Synopsis
C182 PVT PLT WAS DISTR WHILE TAXIING AND HIT RWY LIGHT WITH PROP. RPTR THOUGHT HE HIT IT WITH A WHEEL AND CHKED VISUALLY. FLT WAS CONTINUED AND PROP DAMAGE DISCOVERED AFTER LNDG.
Narrative
AT APPROX XX18 AT SMITH CTR; KS; AFTER USUAL PREFLT AND RUNUP; I BACK-TAXIED ON RWY 17 FOR TKOF. THERE IS A TURNAROUND TO THE L OF THE RWY WITH SOME CRACKS IN THE ASPHALT AND GRASS GROWING THROUGH THEM. I PULLED OFF THE RWY TO THE L AND BEGAN A TURN TO THE R TO SWING ONTO RWY 17. AS I BEGAN COMING AROUND TO THE R; SOME MATERIALS ON THE PAX SEAT FELL OFF; MOMENTARILY DISTRACTING ME. AT THIS INSTANT I FELT THE AIRPLANE CONTACT SOMETHING. I COULD SEE THAT CONTACT HAD BEEN MADE WITH A LIGHT AT THE END OF THE RWY. I AM UNSURE OF THE OPERATIONAL STATUS OF THE RWY LIGHTS AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT. IT WAS MY PERCEPTION THAT I HAD HIT THE LIGHT WITH THE L WHEEL STRUT. I CHKED THE STRUT AND THERE APPEARED TO BE NO SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE. THE ENG WAS RUNNING SMOOTHLY WITH NO VIBRATION. I PROCEEDED TO FLY TO MY DEST. UPON COMPLETION OF THE FLT AND SHUTDOWN; I DISCOVERED THAT THERE HAD BEEN SOME DAMAGE TO 1 BLADE OF THE 3-BLADED PROP. DURING THE FLT ITSELF; THERE WAS NO PERCEPTIBLE EVIDENCE OF ANY ALTERATION IN PERFORMANCE.
Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.