Narrative:

While taxiing into position for takeoff on runway 30 the left propeller of the C303 I was plting struck a taxiway sign. I was attempting to back taxi on the runway to utilize more length of the runway as I was at an intersection and waiting for a conquest to depart on intersecting runway 21. I had moved forward from the hold line before deciding to back taxi on the runway, then decided to cut the corner of the intersection to be able to facilitate getting more runway ahead of me. From that position the right wing must have blocked my view of the sign and I struck the sign while attempting to back taxi. I feel 2 factors are involved in this accident or situation. The first is that I feel that I should always taxi in the middle of txwys and runways when possible, instead of trying to cut the corner. Second, a taxi light or sign located in the asphalt out away from the edge of txwys and runways should somehow be additionally marked, heightened or designated to be seen under all conditions. This sign was located out from the runway/taxiway intersection into the asphalt/concrete many ft from the grass border, approximately 20 to 30 ft as I recall. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: this pilot was taxiing a cessna 303 crusader when he struck a taxiway sign that was at least 15 to 20 ft inside the asphalt area with the left propeller. The propeller had to be changed and the sign was badly damaged. The FAA investigated and initially said that charges would be filed against the pilot and his company, but later changed their minds and did not file charges.

Google
 

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SIGN PLACEMENT. PLT OF A SMT TWIN STRIKES A TXWY SIGN WITH HIS L PROP. THE SIGN WAS 15 TO 20 FT INSIDE THE ASPHALT AREA OF THE TXWY.

Narrative: WHILE TAXIING INTO POS FOR TKOF ON RWY 30 THE L PROP OF THE C303 I WAS PLTING STRUCK A TXWY SIGN. I WAS ATTEMPTING TO BACK TAXI ON THE RWY TO UTILIZE MORE LENGTH OF THE RWY AS I WAS AT AN INTXN AND WAITING FOR A CONQUEST TO DEPART ON INTERSECTING RWY 21. I HAD MOVED FORWARD FROM THE HOLD LINE BEFORE DECIDING TO BACK TAXI ON THE RWY, THEN DECIDED TO CUT THE CORNER OF THE INTXN TO BE ABLE TO FACILITATE GETTING MORE RWY AHEAD OF ME. FROM THAT POS THE R WING MUST HAVE BLOCKED MY VIEW OF THE SIGN AND I STRUCK THE SIGN WHILE ATTEMPTING TO BACK TAXI. I FEEL 2 FACTORS ARE INVOLVED IN THIS ACCIDENT OR SIT. THE FIRST IS THAT I FEEL THAT I SHOULD ALWAYS TAXI IN THE MIDDLE OF TXWYS AND RWYS WHEN POSSIBLE, INSTEAD OF TRYING TO CUT THE CORNER. SECOND, A TAXI LIGHT OR SIGN LOCATED IN THE ASPHALT OUT AWAY FROM THE EDGE OF TXWYS AND RWYS SHOULD SOMEHOW BE ADDITIONALLY MARKED, HEIGHTENED OR DESIGNATED TO BE SEEN UNDER ALL CONDITIONS. THIS SIGN WAS LOCATED OUT FROM THE RWY/TXWY INTXN INTO THE ASPHALT/CONCRETE MANY FT FROM THE GRASS BORDER, APPROX 20 TO 30 FT AS I RECALL. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: THIS PLT WAS TAXIING A CESSNA 303 CRUSADER WHEN HE STRUCK A TXWY SIGN THAT WAS AT LEAST 15 TO 20 FT INSIDE THE ASPHALT AREA WITH THE L PROP. THE PROP HAD TO BE CHANGED AND THE SIGN WAS BADLY DAMAGED. THE FAA INVESTIGATED AND INITIALLY SAID THAT CHARGES WOULD BE FILED AGAINST THE PLT AND HIS COMPANY, BUT LATER CHANGED THEIR MINDS AND DID NOT FILE CHARGES.

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.