Incident Overview
A lineman sustained serious injuries when he inadvertently walked into the turning propeller of the number 1 engine on a high-wing twin-engine airplane. The incident occurred during ground operations prior to a night flight. The airplane was not damaged.
Details of the Event
The lineman, who had completed all required training, had recently changed work shifts and had a total of six months of experience. According to the pilot, after both engines were started, the lineman quickly approached the airplane to unplug the ground power unit (GPU). He then proceeded to cross beneath the left wing from front to rear to retrieve the left main landing gear wheel chocks. While recovering the chocks, he was struck by the left engine propeller blade. It was noted that normally the aircrew removes their own wheel chocks.
Pilot Response and Conditions
The pilot-in-command performed an engine shutdown, exited the aircraft, and assisted the injured lineman. The airplane was stationary at the time of the mishap. Weather at the airport was not a factor in the incident.