Model Walks Into Plane Propeller

[Gerard]

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/model-hand-sliced-walks-plane-propeller-suffered-head-brain-injuries-article-1.987226

[gonzalu]

OMG that's awful!!

[NIKV69]

Amazing she survived it. Goodness.

[PhilDernerJr]

I was really hoping the thread title pertained to a bad joke. :(

[megatop412]

They needed an "aviation enthusiast's" synopsis on how a spinning airplane propeller can kill you? Guess we would've been in the dark about that

[heeshung]

How is that possible? Complete and utter inattentiveness?

[NIKV69]

Actually got a friend at ADS and he actually took me to that airport on an errand. Going to call him.

He is going to see what he can find out, here is a link with more info, if true it sounds like she just got too close and probably got sucked in. Prop was spinning at a fast rate and not being shut down since plane was picking up someone to turn around.

http://www.myfoxdfw.com/dpp/news/Plano-Woman-Lauren-Scruggs-Hit-by-Plane-Propeller-120511

[mirrodie]

She was likely drunk....

[moose135]

Are you saying that based on news reports, Mario, or just speculating? Because plenty of people - including those who work around airplanes - walk into props without being drunk.

[NIKV69]

Looks like the only one who knows the whole story is the pilot. When I was there I didn't see much of any FBO. Just fuelers. It's a very desolate airport. My buddy doesn't know anybody there. His boss at at ADS knows someone but they don't know jack so unless the pilot talks (unlikely) we can just speculate she didn't know any better and ran in front of the prop. Which was spinning because the plane was quickly departing with another passenger and she got sucked in because she got too close.

[ch2tdriver]

That referenced Fox News article says it was a Husky.

The pic in this link says it all:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:G-HSKI-Huskie-095.jpg

Look where the guy standing is in relation to the strut. There is nothing in between him and the prop to be in your way and stop you. The article says she was exiting and another passenger was boarding. It takes all your concentration to squeeze in and out of that back seat. You have to lean forward, swing your right leg out and step on the right tire, then pull your left side out and step down where your back is most likely to the prop. When she got out her guard was down, turned left and walked into the invisible spinning prop.

You NEVER deplane a single hot like that unless you have a ground crewmen to strap your pax in, and even then it's not a good idea and dangerous. We give rides in Cubs at Bayport Fly-ins and most of the guys shut down even though we have ground handlers escorting to and from. Its much better to deal with a hot start and prolonged hand prop, then it is to risk a non-pilot passenger walking into the prop. At the last one the only planes that didn't shut down were the Stearmans. The CAP kids were getting rides one after the other, but we had members literally walking to and from the cockpit.

[Gerard]

She was likely drunk....

According to her parents she didnt drink or do drugs. Of course that doesnt mean she didnt but they are also religious people. So who knows but it is a very tragic story.

[mirrodie]

Pure speculation on my part. Usually, if I am near something that can kill me, (crazy women, edge of a cliff, etc) I respect it by giving it a lot of room.

Just makes we wonder.

[NIKV69]

Her mother is saying now she went to thank the pilot. Not sure what she exactly did but she is talking now so I am sure we will get more info.

[Mateo]

Never get out of a high-wing airplane with the prop spinning. She got out of the plane, instead of turning right she turned to her other right, and this is what happened. Tragic.

[megatop412]

As with most traumatic brain injuries she will probably remember little if anything at all.

[mirrodie]

I was reading the preliminary doctors reports and seems they are doing the best they can. Suffering a several facial nerve as well as ruptured globe of the eye (laymans: The eye was blown open).

From a visual standpoint, I have seen a case on Long Island where an eye was stitched back together with its contents relatively in good order to the point that the vision was able to be salvaged to 20/25. That is a miracle case though.

This lady will have a long road to recovery. Pray for her and her doctors.

[emshighway]

Pure speculation on my part. Usually, if I am near something that can kill me, (crazy women, edge of a cliff, etc) I respect it by giving it a lot of room.

Just makes we wonder.

Especially with crazy women near the edge of a cliff.

Have to say it. She is blonde...

Wish her well.

[tlabranche]

I now it's obvious to most fliers, but I wonder if the flight crew briefed the passengers not to approach the prop upon exiting the plane. Every time I fly on a Dash-8, that's one of the safety announcements from the crew.

[NIKV69]

Especially with crazy women near the edge of a cliff.

Have to say it. She is blonde...

Much like Mario's drunk comment this is pretty uncalled for. Judging by what she has accomplished in the fashion world she wasn't stupid.


I now it's obvious to most fliers, but I wonder if the flight crew briefed the passengers not to approach the prop upon exiting the plane. Every time I fly on a Dash-8, that's one of the safety announcements from the crew.

In commercial aviation those announcements are done and are required to do so. In general aviation in rural Texas I am figuring the pilot didn't give her a briefing. Again we don't know what this pilot told her or didn't. He has been very quiet and has probably consulted a lawyer telling him to clam up. It seems we won't know exactly what happened until litigation happens.

[Gerard]

Much like Mario's drunk comment this is pretty uncalled for. Judging by what she has accomplished in the fashion world she wasn't stupid.

I agree. And for what she is going through now is pretty terrible.

[T-Bird76]

Shouldn't the pilot have made sure the engines were shut down and the plane was safe to exit? Seems his situational awarness was off, he should have informed her not to exit or stopped her from exiting before it was safe to.

[NIKV69]

Apparently the pilot was doing an immediate turnaround and the outgoing passenger was about to board. I am not sure what the FAA regs are about letting pax deplane while running but at least she is up and walking now.

http://abcnews.go.com/US/lauren-scruggs-tragedy-propeller-accident-victim-takes-steps/story?id=15110657#.TuZGyrIeiSw

[T-Bird76]

Apparently the pilot was doing an immediate turnaround and the outgoing passenger was about to board. I am not sure what the FAA regs are about letting pax deplane while running but at least she is up and walking now.

http://abcnews.go.com/US/lauren-scruggs-tragedy-propeller-accident-victim-takes-steps/story?id=15110657#.TuZGyrIeiSw

I'd be hard pressed to think there's not some rule. I've been on Turboprops before that have made quick turns and the engine on the side of the plane I was deplaning was shut down totally while the prop on the other side was still spinning. I'd wager the pilot is going to looked at closely in this accident.

[megatop412]

When I rode that B-17 back in June, they did a quick turn when we returned to the field to pick up the next load of passengers, and they shut down the starboard engines but kept port turning. Despite this they had people stationed near the wing to make sure no one went near the things(they were still hot also)

[ch2tdriver]

I'd be hard pressed to think there's not some rule. I've been on Turboprops before that have made quick turns and the engine on the side of the plane I was deplaning was shut down totally while the prop on the other side was still spinning. I'd wager the pilot is going to looked at closely in this accident.

There is no FAR that mandates shutting down an engine.

From the article: "Scruggs had just landed with a girlfriend after viewing Christmas lights from above in a small prop plane piloted by a family friend."

Considering this was an Avitat Husky single engine recip, the flight was conducted under FAR Part 91 rules. It may have been just a personal pleasure flight, or at most a 'for-hire' "Sightseeing" flight which is permitted under Part 91 if the flight is conducted within 25 miles from the originating airport. It was not a charter flight as the Husky is not certified for Part 135 Ops.

In any case for Part 91 ops the only passenger briefing that is required, is to ensure that the seat belts are fastened before the plane moves. That's it. For Part 91 in the section for "Large" or "Turbine" power airplanes a more detailed briefing is required. This includes emergency exits, no smoking, how to use the seat belts, please fasten now etc.... There is still no requirement to brief passengers on goings on outside or to shut down the engine to deplane.

There may be regs for Part 121 or 135 as I'm a bit rusty, but in any case would not apply here.

[Gerard]

Apparently the pilot was doing an immediate turnaround and the outgoing passenger was about to board. I am not sure what the FAA regs are about letting pax deplane while running but at least she is up and walking now.

http://abcnews.go.com/US/lauren-scruggs-tragedy-propeller-accident-victim-takes-steps/story?id=15110657#.TuZGyrIeiSw

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/texas-model-lost-hand-plane-propeller-accident-eating-solid-foods-walking-article-1.991080

[Gerard]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/17/lauren-scruggs-model-hit-by-propeller-was-warned-by-pilot_n_1210605.html?ref=travel

[NIKV69]

http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/headlines/2012/01/lauren-scruggs-recovery-milestone-injured-model-meets-with-prosthetic-experts/