PLT OF A CARGO PAZT ACFT TAXIING AT NIGHT HAS PROP DAMAGE FROM CONTACTING A RWY LIGHT WHILE CTRING ACFT ON THE RWY.

Narrative

I HAD RECEIVED TKOF CLRNC FROM CEDAR RAPIDS; IA; TWR FOR AN FAA PART 135 CARGO FLT AND PROCEEDED S ON TXWY B2 TO RWY 9. WHILE ALIGNING THE PIPER AZTEC FOR TKOF; I WAS MAKING ONE FINAL ENG INSTS CHK PRIOR TO THE ACTUAL TKOF AND WHILE MOMENTARILY LOOKING DOWN AT THE INSTS; TAXIED THE ACFT TOO FAR TO THE S SIDE OF THE RWY WHERE THE R ENG PROP STRUCK A RWY EDGE LIGHT. BOTH BLADES OF THE R ENG PROP INCURRED DAMAGE AS WELL AS THE NOSE SECTION OF THE FUSELAGE FROM THE RWY LIGHT DEBRIS IN THE FORM OF SCRATCHES; DENTS; SEVERAL SMALL HOLES AND ONE LARGER 3- INCH HOLE. I BELIEVE THE COMBINATION OF MOMENTARY 'HEAD- DOWN' TIME TO LOOK AT THE ENG INSTS; THE ABSENCE OF A YELLOW CTRLINE ON THE TXWY THAT LEADS TO THE CTRLINE OF THE RWY AND THAT IT TOOK PLACE AT NIGHT; CONTRIBUTED TO THIS OCCURRENCE. ANOTHER CONTRIBUTING FACTOR; IS THE VIEW FROM THE PLT'S SEAT (L SEAT) IN THIS PARTICULAR ACFT LOOKING RIGHT TOWARDS THE GND. THE INST PANEL IS QUITE HIGH INTO THE FIELD OF VISION THROUGH THE WINDSCREEN AND THE R ENG NACELLE PROTRUDING FORWARD FROM THE WING ALSO LIMITS THE RIGHT-LOOKING; DOWNWARD VISIBILITY.