Narrative:

The outbound crew was at the aircraft when we shut down. Even though they were at the aircraft; I did my postflt walkaround as I always do. I was later in the day informed via telephone by the outbound captain that on my postflt; I had missed that a propeller blade on the right engine was missing about 1-2 inch of the propeller tip. This was my 3RD postflt inspection on this aircraft today; each time I spun the propeller to look at the individual blades. I clearly missed an obvious discrepancy; I should not have missed on this leg. I believe my postflt inspections tend to be thorough and not rushed; however definitely not thorough enough today. I believe the reason I missed the propeller tip today; was that I allowed myself to have tunnel vision. While looking at that propeller blade; I noticed that the clear tape over the propeller boot was beginning to wear. While determining the serviceability of the propeller tape; I focused solely on it; and did not continue to look down to the propeller tip. I'm thankful that the outbound first officer did not make the same mistake I did and spotted the discrepancy. In the future; I will be much more diligent.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: DISTRACTED BY WORN PROP TAPE; FIRST OFFICER OF SAAB 340 FAILS TO NOTE ONE TO TWO INCHES OF MISSING PROP TIP ON WALKAROUND.

Narrative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

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of May 2009 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.