Propeller Strike Injury During Snow Removal (N4818D)

What happened

An aviation incident occurred when an aircraft propeller struck a passenger who was positioned near the engine area. The individual had been attempting to sweep snow off the exterior of the aircraft. Discrepancies emerged between the pilot and the passenger regarding the sequence of events leading to the injury.

The pilot stated that he had explicitly instructed the passenger to remain clear of the aircraft during the operation. Conversely, the passenger reported that the pilot had directed him to remove the snow. The passenger described losing consciousness or memory immediately after the propeller made contact, recalling only holding his arm following the impact.

Findings

The primary causal factor was the propeller strike resulting from proximity to the rotating blades during ground operations. Conflicting testimony regarding safety instructions highlights potential communication failures during pre-flight or post-flight procedures in adverse weather conditions.