Yes – I assumed it happened from rain.
If it happened by digging the prop into soft ground, that’s a mandatory shock load inspection.
However, neither of the two airports in question involves any grass so I guess it must have been airborne.
Yes, it definitely happened in the air. The taxying in Augsburg and at Paderborn was on tarmac the whole time. (These are large tarmaced airports, not small ones with grass.) It’s the rain or perhaps hail that did this. I’m just surprised by the extent of it. I wonder if, when the blades were touched up at Annual time, they simply used unsuitable paint….and if you look carefully you’ll see that only the cream paint has come off – and very cleanly. This suggests that it is indeed unsuitable (water soluble perhaps 
). There was no prop strike except with aqueous precipitation at 140kts.
Really looks like “only” a paint problem, nothing else. I think there is maintenance available at PAD, so if you want, let them have a quick look at it. Other than that, I suppose it doesn’t look too bad.
I know the hotel well… been there many times during the flight sim show which takes place there in spring.
Hope the rest of your trip will be as successful as this leg was!
The picture of the prop looks like a painting problem only. You can probably peel off the rest of the paint with your bare fingers. Maybe someone put grease on the prop before applying the paint ;-)
Same thing used to happen to Spitfires flying in the rain with wooden props. Could lose inches off the tips.
Peter wrote:
Indeed, and often this works because CB bases are often not very low; typically 1500-2000ft. Some problems however:
I try to avoid the grim black vertical development, to avoid flying under the black bands of possible hail and unbelievable blinding rain, having tried and regretted the experience. The trick is to avoid those T-storms, to find gaps far from the dark towers, where the vertical development is less and where you can pass in peace. Doesn’t always work, and if things start looking too tough, you need the discipline to do a 180 and land for an hour or a day or two days until things get better.
You should see the erosion on the tips of a float plane prop after a busy summer… now where did I put that file! Agree with the others, just a bit of flaking paint.
Thanks all. I’ll take it up with my maintenance people.
Howard
This is just a picture from the other side at 9000’ on that day. I hope Howard has made it home by now.
Stupid question perhaps, but rather than sell house and buy new one, why not invest in an IR and a WX capable plane? That way you can have almost 100% dispatch and yet still keep the house in the UK. Cheaper than buying new house.
