There's no indication thus far, if what's reported as fact, is fact. We've all read journalistic bloopers on these fora, so it's entirely possible that the pilot didn't say that they knocked the prop but a journo has tried to translate a technical explanation in to layperson's terms.
For this reason alone, the poor pilot should be given the natural justice position of innocent until proven guilty.
When I started the thread, my mindset was the the news article title was incorrectly stated. Perhaps I'm wrong?