What happened
During ground operations prior to a night flight, a lineman was seriously injured while working near a high-wing twin-engine airplane. As the aircraft completed both engine starts in preparation for departure, the employee approached the aircraft to unplug the ground power unit (GPU). While moving from forward to aft beneath the left wing to retrieve the left main landing gear wheel chocks, the lineman walked into the rotating propeller of the number 1 engine.
The aircraft was stationary at the time of the incident. Following the contact, the pilot-in-command performed an engine shutdown, exited the aircraft, and provided assistance to the injured worker. The weather at the airport was not a factor in the event.
Findings
- The lineman had completed all required training but had recently changed work shifts and possessed six months of total experience.
- It was noted that aircrews typically remove their own wheel chocks.
- The injury was caused by the worker walking into the propeller while retrieving chocks.