An analysis of civil aviation propeller-to-person accidents: 1965-79
Collins, W.E.; Mastrullo, A.R.; Kirkham, W.R.; Taylor, D.K.; Grape, P.M.
Aviation Space and Environmental Medicine 53(5): 458-462
1982
ISSN/ISBN: 0095-6562 PMID: 7092754 Document Number: 187684
The interest of manufacturing, governmental and safety personnel in using paint schemes on propeller and rotor blades is based on improving the visual conspicuity of those blades when they are rotating. While propeller and rotor paint schemes may serve to reduce the number of fatalities and injuries due to contact with a rotating blade, there is little information about the circumstances surrounding such accidents. Brief reports provided by the National Transportation Safety Board of all propeller-to-person accidents from 1965-1979 were examined and analyzed in terms of airport lighting conditions, actions of pilots, actions of passengers and groundcrew, phase of flight operations, weather conditions and others. Analyses based on 319 accidents showed a marked drop in the frequency of propeller-to-person accidents from 1975-1978. Several types of educational efforts directed toward pilots and groundcrew, both prior to and during that 4 yr period, were examined as possible factors contributing to the accident rate decline. Accident patterns provide a basis for assessing the probable efficacy of various recommendations, including propeller conspicuity, for further reducing propeller-to-person accidents.