The pilot reported that he performed the preflight inspection at night and started the airplane, but the Cessna 172 would not move forward as he attempted to taxi from parking to the runway at the airport in Key West, Florida.
He looked out the left window in search of wheel chocks, while his passenger exited the right door and checked the right main landing gear wheel for chocks.
The passenger then moved to the front of the airplane and attempted to remove the chocks from the nose wheel. His right hand was struck by the propeller, causing serious injury.
The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Probable Cause: The pilot’s and the passenger’s improper decision to have the passenger attempt to move a wheel chock while the propeller was turning, which resulted in a serious injury.
This October 2019 accident report is provided by the National Transportation Safety Board. Published as an educational tool, it is intended to help pilots learn from the misfortunes of others.
Deplaning while the prop is spinning is not wise. I have forgot nose chock maybe 3 times in 34 years and when I realized it, I powered up out of it. I was a bit embarrassed if somebody was watching but, I still have all my extremities intact. Other solution is shut down , pull chock, and start over.
I am not going to second-guess the details here even if outward appearances seem cut and dried and unforgivable. In my almost 40 plus years of being a pilot I have made many a mistake, a couple that could have planted me in a wooden box in the ground, especially early on. I have even driven an automobile on an airport and come face to face with a spinning prop for having not paid attention. That will not ever happen again and I drive like a grandma practically coming to a full stop before turning in the T-Hangar area. That being said when I walk up to an aircraft on the ramp, whether first flight of the day or just a quick turn refueling I am automatically scanning the aircraft and area from 100 yards out. It has become so common it verges on subconscious. And we all start to do this as we make it past the first few hundred hours. When I hear of pilot’s dragging a chunk of concrete tie-down on their tail, pouring on the power to try to intentionally jump a chock or even taking off with gust locks still on I can’t help but wonder if perhaps they have the right type of personality to be flying. We all know folks who may not approach flying with the same detail or situational awareness that we might strive for ourselves. But if nothing else these unfortunate reports from the field can help check any complacency that has worked it way into our routine.
My main reason for reading these and other reports is to learn from others. I would have never guessed that someone would even think of removing a chock from the nose wheel with a spinning prop.
My insurance company sends Pireps on accidents. One report was on taxi accidents. After reading this report I watched what I was tempted to do while taxiing. I was surprised what I did while taxiing and how much it affected taxiing.
I now get everything done prior to taxi, taxi then finish up the check list in the run up area.
Learn from others!
I make it a habit to do a last minute walk around before entering the aircraft. Checking fuel caps, access panels, chocks, obstructions, spectators, etc, etc…
Passenger briefing is also on the check list, prior to engine start.
I hope the injury was not too bad.
Many tears ago while eating lunch at SPZ, the group in the booth behind us finished and went out to Cessna 190. The airplane started up and the front passenger exited the airplane to remove the wheel chock on the right main wheel. He walked around the back of the airplane to the left main wheel and removed the chock. Then he stepped forward into the spinning propeller. That is something that is a very vivid image in my mind. I shut down if anyone needs to get out for any reason. Very sad…
If you read the 6120, this is a low time pilot and wife passenger. She ‘jumped out’ before the pilot could stop her and shut down the engine , but not before she contacted the prop….sad.
I always brief any passengers that if we have to get out of the aircraft, to go to the rear, and never go forward of the wing strut.
So, I’ll guess that the FBO chocked the nose gear the tied down the aircraft, since they missed the nose wheel chock.?
Who chocks the nose on a Cessna.? Most of us will chock the left main, so as we approach and open the pilot door, we can pull the chocks and store them.
Oh my,..tell me please that there is a way for the FAA to pull his/her certificate. This pilot has no clue about risk management. Is there no end to stupid pilot tragedies.
The ‘stupid’ reaction by his wife caused the injury. It had little to do with pilot actions, other than not checking all 3 wheels for chocks.
This is one of those reports that triggers the pucker reflex. I don’t know what to say though. Sad!
Was that after the bar closed 🤔
My thought also.
Also likely there. bccwas no preflight inspection or passenger briefing.