C172 PLT HAD THE PROP STRIKE THE GND WHEN HE TAXIED INTO A HOLE ON THE GRASS TXWY. THE PLT THEN FLEW HOME AFTER DETECTING THE DAMAGE.

Narrative

I TAXIED MY AIRPLANE INTO A HOLE ON A GRASS TXWY AND CAUSED A MINOR PROP STRIKE. THERE WAS NO LOSS OF RPM AND I DID NOT REALIZE THAT THE PROP HAD IMPACTED THE SOD. I FLEW FROM VASHON TO RENTON ARPT (ABOUT 20 NM) AND THEN BACK TO VASHON; STILL WITHOUT REALIZING THE STRIKE HAD OCCURRED. WHEN I DID THE PREFLT PRIOR TO LEAVING VASHON THE SECOND TIME; I DISCOVERED GRASS STAINS AND NICKS ON THE PROP TIPS. I THEN FLEW THE AIRPLANE FROM VASHON TO TACOMA (TIW) TO HAVE THE PROP CHKED BY A MECH. HE HAD THE PROP REPAIRED AND PERFORMED THE REQUIRED AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE. UPON REFLECTION; I FEEL THAT I SHOULD NOT HAVE FLOWN THE AIRPLANE WITHOUT HAVING IT FIRST INSPECTED BY A MECH. PERHAPS MORE INFO COULD BE MADE AVAILABLE ABOUT THE POTENTIAL SERIOUSNESS OF A PROP STRIKE. I THINK THAT THERE ARE AT LEAST 2 HUMAN PERFORMANCE CONSIDERATIONS: 1) FAILURE TO COMPLETE A THOROUGH PREFLT WHEN LEAVING RENTON; AFTER THE FIRST FLT LEG; AND 2) LACK OF KNOWLEDGE ABOUT THE SERIOUS NATURE OF EVEN A MINOR PROP STRIKE.