What happened
On November 17, 2007, at 14:55, a Reims Aviation F 177 RG (registration F-GAAO) was being prepared for a local flight at Saint-Cyr-l’Ecole aerodrome. The pilot and a passenger were maneuvering the aircraft out of a hangar. Due to congestion in the parking area, the pilot moved the aircraft behind a nearby Cap 10 following a request from the other pilot.
After completing the pre-flight inspection and starting the engine, the pilot began taxiing. During the maneuver, the pilot focused on maintaining clearance between the aircraft's wings and nearby obstacles, including a hangar and the adjacent Cap 10. After stopping the aircraft to avoid a hangar gutter, the pilot informed the passenger of his intention to shut down the engine to reassess the surroundings.
Without consulting the pilot, the passenger exited the aircraft and walked toward the front of the plane to inspect the left wingtip. While attempting to shield himself from the propeller's slipstream using his coat, the passenger came into contact with the rotating propeller, resulting in one person seriously injured.