The pilot made a fuel stop as part of a solo cross-country flight in the Cessna 172.
The pilot’s mother and sister had come out to the airport in Glencoe, Minnesota, to visit. After fueling the airplane, his mother and sister returned to their car.
The pilot conducted his preflight, started the engine, and was completing the checklist when he “heard and felt a violent thud.”
He looked up to see his mother “sprinting towards the car.”
The pilot’s mother had returned to the airplane unexpectedly and was struck by the propeller, resulting in a serious injury to her left arm.
The airplane exhibited no obvious damage.
Probable Cause: A bystander’s inadvertent contact with the propeller while the engine was running.
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This December 2020 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.
The pilot doesn’t start the four 3350 engines! The flight engineer starts the engines! An aircraft handler usually an aviation boatswain mate counts 12 rotating blades on the prop, slowly spinning! The engineer looks down on the ground watching for a blade count! After 12 blades pass, the flight engineer starts an engine! And then on to the next engine! Anyway in VW-15 and VW-13 that’s how we did it! 1959-1961!
Let me get this straight; the engine was running and mom didn’t see the propeller turning on a 172 at idle?
Good grief
Please teach non-aviation people at the airport FBO before you enter the airplane side of the airport. I insist guest remain close to me. Before getting outside I remind them: All props are dangerous, moving or not. The pilot may not be able to see people standing on the ramp. Be aware, stay away from other peoples airplanes. Ask if you want to go somewhere else. Spinning props are very hard to see. Most non-aviation people just don’t know and think of it as a parking lot of cars.
Why are most of the comments about the importance of saying “clear” or something of that nature before starting? The report says the engine was already started and running when the mother approached the airplane.
I agree with one comment about how many pilots say clear and engage the starter simultaneously or nearly so. I wait at least a couple of seconds after saying “clear” before engaging the starter. I also like the advice to maybe say “look out” instead of “clear”. A nearby town has a fly-in breakfast every month and many of the townspeople bring there children out to walk around the planes on the ramp. Scary. I’m always concerned and vigilant when I start. I try to get someone outside the plane to monitor the area and signal if anyone approaches during my start routine.
I agree with you. It does say the mother approached after it was started.
In the UK the shout out is a loud ‘Clear Prop’ – it may help?
I also was taught to yell “Clear Prop” prior to start when I trained in the 1960s.
Pilot talk “CLEAR.” The average person has no clue as to what that means.
I always use “LOOK OUT!” People seem to understand that.
Consider what is common practice in military aviation: use of ‘DANGER PROPELLER’ aircraft marking with arrow near the (invisible when rotating) prop.
The PIC must clear the area visually and then aurally before starting the engine. I scan all around the aircraft, call “Clear” and then have a lengthy pause before start
That lengthy pause is crucial! Seems nearly universal to hear “Clear” or “Clear prop” followed instantly by the starter engaging. Give people a chance to get away!
I also believe in pausing, looking around, and listening after calling “CLEAR PROP”.
I was also taught early on if close to an aircraft starting up to respond to “CLEAR PROP” with “YOU ARE CLEAR” if appropriate.
I hope the mother’s okay, however she should have stayed well away from a spinning prop! A pilot should always tell ‘Clear Prop’ before starting, he either forgot or his mother came after the warning. This should never have happened!