Accident Summary
On May 25, 2011, about 1030 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 152 (registration N222UM) was standing with the engine operating at Ann Arbor Regional Airport, Ann Arbor, Michigan. The flight instructor exited the airplane while a student pilot remained at the controls. The instructor was struck by the propeller and sustained serious injuries.
The airplane was registered to and operated by University of Michigan Flyers Inc. under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as an instructional flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The instructional flight had begun about 0800 and was intended to remain in the airport traffic pattern.
Sequence of Events
The flight instructor reported she arrived at the airport at 0620 after only four hours of sleep. She provided ground instruction to the student pilot while waiting for rain showers to clear. After the weather improved, they conducted takeoffs and landings. Upon completion, they taxied to the ramp. The instructor then exited the airplane with the engine running. Instead of walking toward the rear of the airplane—as normally done for a student solo—the instructor walked toward her car, which was toward the front. She held her headset with dangling cords in her left hand and her jacket and flight bag in her right. The headset cord was caught by the moving propeller, pulling her into the propeller.
The instructor noted that the operator's flight instructors typically positioned the airplane facing the taxi direction for a solo flight and then exited toward the rear with the engine operating. She stated that after the accident, the operator implemented a policy prohibiting personnel from entering or exiting aircraft with the engine running.
The report references Advisory Circular 91-42D, which advises that engines be shut down before boarding or deplaning to avoid accidents. It also cites Cessna's safety warning recommending stopping engines completely during loading/unloading or providing means to keep clear of the propeller.
Probable Cause
The accident investigation source did not state a probable cause.