Small Aircraft; High Wing; 1 Eng; Fixed Gear
Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Commercial
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 15; Flight Crew Total 2554; Flight Crew Type 2103
Situational Awareness; Distraction; Confusion
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Ground Event / Encounter Object
Aircraft Aircraft Damaged; General Maintenance Action
Airport; Environment - Non Weather Related; Human Factors
I exited Runway 20 at Alpha after landing and taxied to apron. Turned right next to grass and taxied parallel to Runway 20 to a marked taxiway leading toward Taxiway Charlie. I have followed this routing many times in the past after progressive taxi instructions were given to me many years ago. While in slow taxi; I heard a bang while following the marked taxiway in the open apron area. I could not see anything that could have been hit so I continued taxi to shutdown. I inspected the propeller and saw a scuff mark on the forward side of one blade's tip. Looked back into the incident area and didn't see any obstructions. Several days later I thought to return and investigate further. Walking the area I found a row of plastic taxi lights across the marked taxiway I followed with markings and evidence one light was glued to the pavement on the taxiway line. At this point; there is a slight dip in the pavement from the direction I approached; apparently obscuring the taxiway lights as I approached. I thought I was following an authorized taxiway because the yellow line was clearly visible.On further investigation; I learned that the area is now marked closed on the airport diagram. The diagram was not consulted before the incident because of familiarity with the airport; clear VMC conditions prevailing in daylight hours; in reliance upon the taxiway markings on paved open apron area; and the absence of clearly painted warnings on the pavement that the area was closed despite the clearly marked taxiway. If the taxi light had been placed a few feet to either side of the marked taxi line; a propeller strike would not have occurred.It would be helpful if the marked taxi lines in this area were moved off the existing taxi lines; the taxi lines obliterated; and painted signage on the pavement be installed stating 'Closed Area' at intervals around the closed part of the apron or the entire area painted green or red to better alert of the area's closure to aircraft operations.
The reporter stated that he had not looked at the airport diagram but had read the NOTAMs. Since he did not see any reference to a closed apron area he assumed no restrictions exited. He felt deceived by Taxiway H centerline markings continuing into the closed area and suggests the line be obliterated. Because of the prop strike an engine tear down was required. He also remembers short duration drop in RPM from around 900 to 500 at the time of the event but did not connect the event with an encounter.
After landing at SAC; a pilot taxied to parking on Taxiway H without referencing an airport diagram and taxied into the closed apron area where his propeller struck a taxi light. The taxiway centerline was clearly visible deceiving the pilot into believing the area was open.