FOLLOWING A RECENT REPAVING; A PILOT REPORTS HIS ACFT'S PROP STRIKING A RECESSED DRAIN GRATE AT RHV NEAR THE EAST END OF THE HANGAR M TXWY.

Narrative

WHILE TAXIING FROM HANGAR ON NORTH NORTHEAST SIDE OF FIELD; STRUCK PROP 3 TIMES AT ENTRANCE TO TXWY M ON NORTH NORTHEAST ENTRANCE; TRAVELING SOUTHWEST BOUND AT LESS THAN 10 KTS. PROP STRIKE OCCURRED WHEN NOSEWHEEL DROPPED ONTO/INTO DEPRESSED WATER GRATE ON TXWY CTRLINE. DAMAGE WAS NOT NOTICED UNTIL RETURN TO HOME BASE AS NO REDUCTION IN ENG RPM OR VIBRATION WAS NOTED AFTER PROP STRIKE. SUBJECT GRATE IS RECESSED BELOW GRADE AT LEAST 2 1/2 INCHES PLUS ADDITIONAL LOWERING DUE TO RECENT REPAVING OF SURROUNDING ASPHALT. CAN BE CORRECTED BY LOCAL ARPT RAISING ALL DRAINAGE GRATES TO LOCAL GRADE ELEVATION AROUND GRATES. ALSO; LEARNED TO MAKE SMALL 'S' TURNS WHILE TAXIING; EVEN WHEN ON TXWY CTRLINES.CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: REPORTER STATED THAT WHAT HE IDENTIFIED AS TXWY M IS ACTUALLY A TXWY NEXT TO HANGAR M. THREE HOURS PRIOR TO THIS EVENT; HE HAD BEEN RECEIVING A CHECK RIDE FROM AN INSTRUCTOR WHO STRESSED THE IMPORTANCE OF REMAINING ON TXWY CENTER LINES WHILE TAXIING. RECALLING THAT INSTRUCTION; THE REPORTER WAS TAXIING ON THE CENTER LINE; FELT A BUMP; BUT DID NOT REALIZE THAT THE PROP HAD CONTACTED THE PAVEMENT BECAUSE THERE WAS NO UNUSUAL SOUND OR VISUAL INDICATION. THE FLT TO HIS HOME ARPT WAS NORMAL BUT DURING POST FLT HE DISCOVERED THE PROP DAMAGE. THE REPORTER IS HAVING THIS PROP REPAIRED BUT HAS SINCE RETURNED TO RHV AND TAKEN PICTURES OF THE AREA WHERE THE PROP MADE CONTACT WITH THE PAVEMENT. THE REPORTER IS MOST CONCERNED THAT THIS DRAIN BE REPAIRED SO THAT THE SAME MISHAP DOES NOT OCCUR TO ANOTHER ACFT BUT WITH MORE SERIOUS CONSEQUENCES.