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If you have ever been around a propeller plane, you know how quickly the blades spin. In many cases, propellers rotate so quickly that the human eye is unable to make out the individual blades. At night, it can even be impossible to see propeller movement at all. In fact, several people have been seriously injured by walking into an airplane propeller at night or in situations where visibility was low.
Anyone who has been injured in an airplane propeller accident should speak to an experienced aviation accident lawyer about their case, as they may be entitled to compensation for their injuries.
These tend to be devastating accidents that can result in traumatic brain injuries, amputations, severe disfigurement, loss of mobility, and other long-term impairments. In the most catastrophic cases, a person may die due to injuries sustained during a propeller accident.
Serious Airplane Propeller Accidents
There have been a number of airplane propeller accidents reported in recent years. The injuries involved may be life-changing for the victims, and in some cases, airports have changed their policies after an accident of this magnitude occurs.
In January 2019, a woman in Louisiana was seriously injured when she walked into an airplane propeller at an airport at night. According to one report, the woman was struck in the arm and sent to the hospital with traumatic injuries. The report also stated that the accident will help tighten safety precautions at the airport to prevent future incidents.
In an accident in Massachusetts in 2018, a man was injured by an airplane propeller even though the plane’s engine wasn’t running at the time of the accident. A report states that the man suffered a laceration on his head. Fortunately, his injury wasn’t life-threatening. However, the incident shows that propellers can still cause injury even when a plane’s engine is shut off.
A man was killed in an airplane propeller accident when he was struck in the head by his plane’s propeller in Cleveland, Ohio in July 2018. A report from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) stated that the plane belonged to the man, who had piloted the plane there from Florida.
Another incident shows that even experienced pilots can suffer devastating propeller accidents. In 2012, a former British Royal Air Force pilot was killed when he lost concentration while exiting his aircraft and walked into the spinning propeller. Tragically, he died as a result of his injuries.
In 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts, a man was cut by a spinning airplane propeller. According to a report, the propeller clipped him in the side of the head when the plane’s engine “hiccupped.” Reports state that his injuries were not life-threatening. This case demonstrates that pilots and passengers should act as though the engine is running any time they are around a propeller plane.
Avoiding Propeller Accidents
Airplane propeller accidents may happen infrequently, but they typically cause extremely devastating injuries, which is why it’s so important to always practice safety whenever you’re around one.
Pilots can do their part by teaching their passengers about the importance of propeller safety. It’s also important for pilots to use good safety practices any time they’re around a propeller plane.
Treat the Propeller Like the Plane’s Ignition Is On
Aviation experts say you should always treat the propeller as if the aircraft’s ignition is on, as the propeller is simply an extension of the engine. In other words, if the engine has the ability to start, such as from a backfire or an unexpected start, it can also start the propeller spinning. Pilots and passengers alike should always assume that the ignition is on, even if the propeller is not spinning.
Don’t Enter or Exit the plane with the Engine Running
Pilots should also completely shut down the plane’s engine before exiting the airplane or permitting passengers to unload. They should also wait until the engine is off before removing cargo from the airplane.
It’s also important to never load a plane while the engine is running, and pilots and passengers alike should never board a propeller plane while the engine is on.
Educate Passengers
For most people, being a passenger on an airplane means flying on a commercial jet, where you almost always enter the aircraft from a jetway. As pilots know, flying on a propeller plane is an entirely different experience.
Unlike a commercial jet, being a passenger on a prop plane usually means walking right up to it. This unfamiliarity is why it’s important for pilots to educate their passengers about the very real dangers of airplane propellers.
To keep passengers safe, pilots should talk to passengers before getting near the plane, and explain how much distance passengers should keep between themselves and the propeller.
If you or a loved one has been injured in an airplane propeller accident you should speak to an experienced aviation accident lawyer at the Jonathan C. Reiter Law Firm in New York City about your case, as you may be able to seek compensation for your injuries. Attorney Jonathan C. Reiter has experience in handling aviation accidents and will fight for the justice you deserve.
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Sources:
- https://www.aviationpros.com/aoa/news/12439799/woman-injured-by-airplane-propeller-at-houma-airport
- https://www.salemnews.com/news/local_news/man-injured-by-airplane-propeller/article_06579496-adf1-5b3f-b45e-c2f2352e36c1.html
- http://www.wrcbtv.com/story/38744158/update-ntsb-releases-preliminary-report-on-deadly-propeller-accident-at-cleveland-airport
- https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/aviation/9627585/Pilot-killed-walking-into-propeller-blades.html
- https://whdh.com/news/man-cut-injured-by-airplane-propeller-at-beverly-airport/
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