My OshKosh Prop Strike
 

So, there I was taxiing into HBC at OshKosh.....

My Engine was hot and surging from sitting on the taxiway as the orange vested scooter marshal turned into the grass at HBC. The scooter marshal got a little ahead of me about 75 yards, hopped off the scooter and stood at the front of my parking spot. Usually it's a 90 degree turn to park, but because of a soft spot in the row behind they were directing airplanes in front of the parking row requiring a 270 degree turn to park.

I didn't want to blast the airplanes around me trying to make the big turn into parking so I started an early shallow turn into the open grassy area and "KaThump!" I saw a flash of blue and saw this go flying out of the corner of my eye.


It made me kinda sick to my stomach as I pulled the mixture to idle cut-off. Initial inspection of the prop showed 2 blades of the Catto 3 blade caught the cone, a little melted blue plastic on the nickel leading edges and some hairline scratches or cracks aft of the nickel leading edge.


Thankfully I recognized an airplane/trusted A&P from VAF camping just down the row from me. Thank You Walt of ExpAircraft for your time, expertise and advice.

It seemed the prop was OK, just surface scratches. I made my first leg after leaving OSH 30 minutes to inspect to prop and do breakfast. No issues on the remaining 3 hours home. I was in contact with Catto at OSH and plan on keeping an even closer eye on the prop.

I'm going to be down right paranoid about taxiing, especially in open areas from now on. Stay weary and fly safe.

No good deed . . . as the saying goes. That thing could have been camo!

What did Craig Cato say about the cracked paint? Does the substate flex that much without permeant damage?

saw it happen...
 

I was sitting in front of my cowling in the next row back and yelled out as the marshall drove you right into the cone. Don't beat yourself up... the next row back was fine there were no soft spots. The scooter guide got way ahead and whipped into the next row expecting you to follow. He did not realize that he drove you right into the cones though. One of those things to note and learn from. Very happy that the cone was soft and your prop is doing good.

Bill, no reply from Catto yet. I'm sure they're busy returning from OSH etc.

Thanks Stephen.

My turn
 

In HBC, site 308. Thurs AM early like 615 am, I was at the showers, and a high wing pulled out of my row and taxied to p1 for departure. My friend actually saw his wing HIT my prop and turn it.

No kidding. I was the second last plane before p1 taxiway, and its was just bizarre. The guy must have been prepping to turn from the grass row onto the taxi way ...and moved over like he was driving a big rig as my plane was actually further back in line than the others.

So if anyone knows a red high wing that was just down from site 308 in amongst all us +rvs...that taxied out thurs am..... he owes me at least an apology.

My buddy was so surprised....that he wanted to tell me what happened and didnt bother to get the tail number. There are very small chips on two of the tips...and red paint transferred..but no real damage... Amazing, and kind of sucks. Could have been worse i suppose.

How's that mag behaving Rick?

Awesome
 

Running like new sir. Thanks for the pro help. Purrs like a kitten.

Life is back to awesome! I get so bummed when bird is off line. :D

I had a similar experience. On Monday after landing on RWY27 after the airshow I exited per instructed to the right side of the runway. Was directed to proceed west on the grass taxiway and was watching the ground marshaller beckoning me to "come on" toward the west. Soon I caught something out of the edge of my vision to the right and saw a sign collapsing under my right wingtip.

This was the sign that told one to "keep left" on the two way taxiway.

I never saw the sign because I was concentrating in the marshaller. I taxied up to the next intersection where a marshal came over to tell me I had hit the sign with my prop but that they were designed to give way. Then I was told to reverse direction and proceed east to the Alpha taxiway crossing near the threshold of RWY27 for a shorter taxi to HBC. Big mistake but that is for another time.

Bottom line I made it to parking and examined everything. Saw no evidence of a prop strike and no ever a scratch on the wingtip paint where I knocked the sign over.

All points to need as PIC to be wary when following taxi instructions in the grass. The marshals tend to stand far to the side of the taxiway as beckoning one forward and if you take aim for them (particularly if at a distance) you will tend to drift across the centerline of the taxiway area in the grass which was the root cause of my mistake. It would have been nice if the marshaller had been paying closer attention and given me a stop sign before I taxied into the sign but, as PIC it was all on me.

Having said that I don't know why they were insisting on exiting RWY 27 to the right for all arrivals as it led to the need for a horrendous taxi to get to HBC. I ran into the FAA Ground Controller who happened to be working the Alpha crossing that afternoon and they indicated it as an EAA and not an FAA direction that caused all traffic to exit to the right.

In the end I was lucky or I could have damaged my prop or worse.

I'm not sure it's a good idea to put these in writing. If your prop hits "anything but air" while running, a prop strike inspection is required.

That is a little too broad
 

This is the language from Lycoming on prop strike inspection requirements:

A propeller strike includes:
? Any incident, whether or not the engine is operating, where repair of the propeller is necessary
? Any incident during engine operation where the propeller has impact on a solid object which causes a decrease in RPM and also makes a structural repair of the propeller necessary. This incident includes propeller strikes against the ground. Although the propeller can continue to rotate, damage to the engine can occur, possibly with progression to engine failure
? Sudden RPM drop on impact to water, tall grass, or similar yielding medium where propeller damage does not usually occur

I would be concerned if Catto thinks that prop needs removal (ie not just cosmetic) for repair. But "anything but air" is too conservative.