What happened
On July 2, 2022, at approximately 18:00 UTC, a Tecnam P2008, registration LV-S046, was engaged in a local general aviation pleasure flight at the Allen Aeroclub in the province of Río Negro. The flight proceeded without incident until the aircraft landed and taxied to its parking position on the apron.
Upon the aircraft coming to a halt, a passenger exited the cockpit. As the passenger moved away from the aircraft, they were struck by the propeller, which was still in motion. The impact caused the engine to stop abruptly and resulted in serious injuries to the passenger, including head trauma and fractures. The passenger was subsequently transported to a hospital in Cipolletti for treatment.
The investigation
The investigation by the JST faced challenges due to the five-day delay in the occurrence being reported. Investigators examined the operational environment at the private, uncontrolled aerodrome and reviewed the pilot's credentials and the aerodrome's safety protocols.
Evidence revealed that the pilot's medical certification had expired at the end of 2021. Furthermore, the investigation found that the pilot had not provided the passenger with instructions regarding safe clearance from the aircraft during disembarkation. Regarding the facility, while the aeroclub maintained safety manuals for events like festivals, there were no specific procedures governing the boarding or disembarking of passengers. Additionally, there was no documented evidence of a designated aerodrome manager or a formal emergency plan in place for the facility.
Findings
- The pilot was operating with an expired medical certificate.
- The aeroclub lacked established safety procedures for passenger boarding and disembarking.
- There was no functional emergency plan available for the aerodrome.
- No records were found to confirm the appointment of an aerodrome manager as required by regulations.
- Existing regulations for aerodrome managers did not provide specific guidance on handling accident notifications or operational safety containment.