Narrative:

I was taxiing on a grass strip, preparatory to takeoff. I reached for my sectional chart to check a frequency. The chart slipped between my knees. I reached down for it, losing track of forward visibility. I heard a 'ping' on the propeller and shut down. The propeller had struck a runway light bulb, shattering it and requiring propeller repair/replacement. Stupidity on my part--no excuse!!!!!!

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PLT OF SMA, TAXIING FOR TKOF, DISTRACTED BY DROPPED CHART AND HEAD DOWN, LOSES DIRECTIONAL CONTROL, PROPELLER STRIKE ON RWY LIGHT.

Narrative: I WAS TAXIING ON A GRASS STRIP, PREPARATORY TO TKOF. I REACHED FOR MY SECTIONAL CHART TO CHK A FREQ. THE CHART SLIPPED BTWN MY KNEES. I REACHED DOWN FOR IT, LOSING TRACK OF FORWARD VISIBILITY. I HEARD A 'PING' ON THE PROP AND SHUT DOWN. THE PROP HAD STRUCK A RWY LIGHT BULB, SHATTERING IT AND REQUIRING PROP REPAIR/REPLACEMENT. STUPIDITY ON MY PART--NO EXCUSE!!!!!!

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.