What happened
Following the completion of a flight, the pilot taxied the aircraft to a parking spot on the ramp and brought it to a halt with the engine still running. He attempted to signal ground personnel to address a discrepancy he had noticed in the airplane's condition, but his efforts were unsuccessful. Unable to get assistance directly, he instructed his passenger, who was also his wife, to exit the aircraft and locate someone to help them.
The passenger exited through the right-side door and walked into the area swept by the rotating propeller arc. The moving blades struck her, resulting in injuries that required medical attention. The incident highlights the dangers of walking near running engines on the ramp without proper awareness or communication protocols.
The investigation
Investigators examined the circumstances surrounding the ground stop and the position of the passenger relative to the aircraft's propulsion system. The focus was on the sequence of events leading to the contact between the passenger and the propeller. No mechanical failure of the engine or propeller system was identified as a contributing factor to the accident itself; the issue was purely operational and situational.
Findings
The primary finding was that the passenger entered the hazardous zone of the rotating propeller while the engine was operating. The pilot had left the engine running while seeking assistance, creating an uncontrolled hazard on the ramp. The lack of immediate ground crew support forced the pilot to rely on a non-pilot passenger to seek help, which led to the accident. This situation underscores the importance of securing the aircraft and ensuring all personnel are clear of the propeller arc before leaving the cockpit or asking passengers to exit.
Safety message
Pilots should ensure that the engine is shut down and the area around the aircraft is safe before allowing passengers to exit, especially when seeking assistance for mechanical issues. Ground personnel should be alerted via radio or phone rather than relying on visual signals if possible, to prevent such dangerous situations.