What happened
The incident occurred while the pilot was preparing the aircraft for taxi. Upon inspection, the pilot noticed that the nose wheel was secured with chocks. The passenger exited the aircraft to remove these chocks manually. During this process, the engine continued to run. As the passenger worked near the nose of the aircraft, they were struck by the rotating propeller. It was later determined that although the pilot had performed a normal preflight check, they failed to remove the chocks from the nose wheel before starting the engine.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the sequence of events leading to the injury. Examination revealed that the aircraft's engine was operational while the passenger was outside the fuselage. The primary mechanical factor was the presence of wheel chocks under the nose gear, which the pilot had overlooked during the initial walk-around inspection.
Findings
The accident was caused by a breakdown in communication and safety protocols between the pilot and the passenger. Key contributing factors included:
- Failure to remove wheel chocks before engine start
- Engine running with personnel nearby
- Passenger proximity to rotating propeller
The pilot's failure to ensure the area was clear of obstructions and personnel directly led to the injury. The passenger, acting on the assumption that the aircraft was safe to approach, placed themselves in a hazardous position.
Safety message
Pilots must ensure that all ground crew and passengers are clear of the aircraft and its propeller arc before starting the engine. Wheel chocks should be removed by the pilot or coordinated clearly with any assisting personnel to prevent accidental injury.