PA-32 propeller strike on taxiway light, taxiing traffic in a night operation. Excursion from taxiwa...

Attributes
ACN	289956
Time
Date	199411
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : wst
State Reference	RI
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 0
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : hou
Operator	general aviation : instructional
Make Model Name	PA-32 Cherokee Six/Lance/Saratoga
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	ground other : taxi
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 35 flight time total : 1100 flight time type : 30
ASRS Report	289956
Events
Anomaly	non adherence other other anomaly other other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact other
Consequence	other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation
Situations
Airport	other physical facility

Narrative:

When taxiing for takeoff I lost sight of visual references for taxiway and struck a taxiway light with the propeller. I returned to ramp for damage check. Contributing factors to hitting the light: the design of the cherokee 6, an airplane which has good ground visibility when lightly loaded, but which sits quite nose high when back seats are full. Lack of adequate lighting and marking at the airport. Pilot failed to adequately cope with above known problems. Could have been prevented by better airport lighting/markings. Pilot could try a cushion to situation higher. Taxi slower still, don't move without being certain of clear path. Pilot acted properly in checking for damage after striking taxiway light. Several pilots have mentioned that they might have 'just kept going as long as there wasn't any vibration.' propeller damage in this case required propeller overhaul.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PA-32 PROP STRIKE ON TXWY LIGHT, TAXIING TFC IN A NIGHT OP. EXCURSION FROM TXWY.

Narrative: WHEN TAXIING FOR TKOF I LOST SIGHT OF VISUAL REFS FOR TXWY AND STRUCK A TXWY LIGHT WITH THE PROP. I RETURNED TO RAMP FOR DAMAGE CHK. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS TO HITTING THE LIGHT: THE DESIGN OF THE CHEROKEE 6, AN AIRPLANE WHICH HAS GOOD GND VISIBILITY WHEN LIGHTLY LOADED, BUT WHICH SITS QUITE NOSE HIGH WHEN BACK SEATS ARE FULL. LACK OF ADEQUATE LIGHTING AND MARKING AT THE ARPT. PLT FAILED TO ADEQUATELY COPE WITH ABOVE KNOWN PROBS. COULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED BY BETTER ARPT LIGHTING/MARKINGS. PLT COULD TRY A CUSHION TO SIT HIGHER. TAXI SLOWER STILL, DON'T MOVE WITHOUT BEING CERTAIN OF CLR PATH. PLT ACTED PROPERLY IN CHKING FOR DAMAGE AFTER STRIKING TXWY LIGHT. SEVERAL PLTS HAVE MENTIONED THAT THEY MIGHT HAVE 'JUST KEPT GOING AS LONG AS THERE WASN'T ANY VIBRATION.' PROP DAMAGE IN THIS CASE REQUIRED PROP OVERHAUL.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.

PA-32 propeller strike on taxiway light, taxiing traffic in a night operation. Excursion from taxiway.