A PA31 CREW; WHILE CLRING THE RWY AT PAHS; ATTEMPTING TO AVOID A FROZEN RUT; STRUCK A TXWY LIGHT WITH A PROP.
Synopsis
A PA31 CREW; WHILE CLRING THE RWY AT PAHS; ATTEMPTING TO AVOID A FROZEN RUT; STRUCK A TXWY LIGHT WITH A PROP.
Narrative
AT APPROX XA22 AM; WHILE TURNING FROM THE RWY TO THE TXWY TO PARK; MY R PROP (1 BLADE) HIT THE LIGHT AT THE TURNOFF. I INSPECTED THE ACFT. I CALLED MY COMPANY AND THE NICK WAS FILED OUT. ENG AND PROP CHKED OUT; AND ACFT RETURNED TO SVC. THE PROB AROSE BECAUSE I MOVED R TO AVOID THE LARGE POTHOLE IN THE RWY; (CREATED LAST FALL BY HVY ACFT LNDG IN MUDDY CONDITIONS. THE RWY THEN FROZE IN THE RUTS AND WILL PROBABLY THAW AGAIN IN MAY) AND KEEPING THE PEDESTRIAN IN SIGHT ON MY R; WHO WAS OFF THE RWY BUT IN A VERY UNUSUAL LOCATION AND WATCHING MY ACFT INTENTLY (HE TOLD ME LATER HE'D JUST SCRAPED THE RWY AND WANTED TO SEE HOW IT WAS HOLDING UP TO LNDG ACFT). I LOOKED AT HIM A MOMENT TOO LONG TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHY HE WAS STARING AT MY ACFT SO INTENTLY. I LOOKED FORWARD AGAIN FOR THE TXWY TURNOFF AND REALIZED I WAS TURNING IN TOO CLOSE. WHILE I CAN SELDOM SEE THE TURNOFF LIGHT ON THE R SIDE DUE TO ITS LOCATION AND MY POS SITTING IN THE ACFT; I KNEW I WAS CLOSE BUT DIDN'T HAVE TIME TO DO MUCH. I SUPPOSED I COULD'VE SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES; BUT THAT WOULD'VE CAUSED MASSIVE LOOSE GRAVEL ON TOP OF THE ICY SNOW. I WAS ALSO VERY AWARE DURING LNDG ROLL THAT IT WAS REALLY BRIGHT OUT; SNOW BLIND BRIGHT; INCREASED BY THE PILES OF SNOW OUTSIDE THE PARKING AREA. CORRECTIVE ACTIONS: SUNGLASSES. GOING ON THE L SIDE OF THE POTHOLE OR BLITHELY CHARGING THROUGH IT. 7 DAY COMPANY SUSPENSION REDUCED TO 3 DAYS AFTER THEY INSPECTED THE ACFT AND INVESTIGATED THE AREA. SUSPENSION WAS; I'M TOLD; PRIMARILY TO MOLLIFY THE FAA DUE TO OUR RECENT RASH OF DUMB OCCURRENCES. MOVE THE TXWY LIGHT (SUGGESTED). HUMAN FACTORS: I DIDN'T PAY CLOSE ENOUGH ATTN TO MY TASK OF EXITING THE RWY SAFELY; LET MYSELF GET DISTRACTED BY OTHER ITEMS IN THE RWY ENVIRONMENT AND FATIGUE. I WAS IN A GOOD MOOD; IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL ALBEIT BRIGHT DAY; AND ALL OF US ARE FREAKIN' WORN OUT.
Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.