FIRM TOUCHDOWN FOLLOWING A LOW MINIMUMS APCH TO ILM RESULTS IN A PORPOISE DURING WHICH THE TIPS OF THE R PROP SUFFERED DAMAGE.

Narrative

WHILE FLYING AN ILS APCH TO RWY 35 AT ILM DURING LOW VISIBILITY CONDITIONS; I ALLOWED THE AIRPLANE TO MAKE A FIRM LNDG THAT RESULTED IN A NOSE GEAR TO MAIN GEAR OSCILLATION. AFTER SEVERAL OSCILLATIONS; I ADDED PWR; STABILIZED THE AIRPLANE AND TOUCHED DOWN SMOOTHLY IN THE REMAINING RWY. AFTER TAXIING IN AND SHUTTING DOWN THE ENGS; I NOTED THAT THE R PROP TIPS WERE BENT IN ABOUT 3 INCHES FROM EACH END. I DID NOT KNOW THAT I HAD DAMAGED THE PROPS ON TOUCHDOWN. I DID NOT DISCOVER ANY OTHER DAMAGE TO THE AIRFRAME; GEAR; OR ENGS. SINCE THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND NO SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE; I DID NOT FILE AN ACFT ACCIDENT RPT. THE CAUSE WAS DISTR. AT ABOUT 1000 FT AGL DURING THE APCH; I TURNED OFF THE AIRPLANE LNDG LIGHTS TO REDUCE GLARE FROM THE FOG. WX WAS CALM WINDS AND VERY LOW VISIBILITY IN FOG. AT APCH MINIMUMS; I ACQUIRED SUFFICIENT VISUAL CUES WITH APCH LIGHTS; RWY END IDENTIFIER LIGHTS; AND RWY LIGHTS TO CONTINUE TO TOUCHDOWN. HOWEVER; JUST BEFORE THE FLARE (AROUND 30 FT AGL) I REACHED OVER TO TURN ON THE LNDG LIGHTS. I COULDN'T FEEL THE SWITCH AND MOMENTARILY LOOKED DOWN TOWARDS THE SWITCH. WHEN I DID THIS; I ALLOWED THE AIRPLANE TO DSND WITHOUT ENOUGH OF A FLARE TO COMPLETELY STOP THE DSCNT.