What happened
A bank courier for the Federal Reserve Bank was assisting with ground operations on the ramp when the accident occurred. After helping load one aircraft, the courier moved to another nearby airplane to assist with loading. During this time, the pilot of the accident aircraft had closed the cabin door, secured the cargo, and started the engines.
Once the line person authorized the aircraft to taxi, the pilot briefly looked into the cockpit to remove the propeller start locks. Upon looking back up, the pilot observed the courier walking toward the left propeller while carrying two bags. The courier entered the path of the rotating left engine propeller as the pilot was attempting to shut down the engine. At the time of the incident, witnesses noted that the aircraft's navigation lights and red rotating beacons were illuminated. Witnesses stated that the courier's actions did not appear concerning prior to the impact.
The investigation
The investigation included interviews which revealed that while the bank maintained an on-the-job training program, this program lacked instruction regarding the specific hazards of working near aircraft with operating engines. Additionally, the bank had no established policy governing the approach to or loading of aircraft while engines are running.
Findings
The investigation determined that the courier walked into the rotating propeller of the left engine. Contributing factors included a lack of training for bank personnel regarding the dangers of operating around active aircraft engines and the absence of corporate policies regarding safe approach distances during loading operations.