19980730023569A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Dhav DHC2MK1 · Nondalton, AK · July 30, 1998

Date: July 30, 1998 · 08:00 local
Place: Nondalton, AK
Phase of flight: Idling Engines
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N123EF
NTSB investigation: NTSBANC98LA112
Reported as: Dhav DHC2MK1
Reported engine: Pratt & Whitney R985AN14B
People aboard: 6
Fatal injuries: 1
Pilot’s flight hours: 13,540 total1,166 in this make and model120 in the last 90 days

N123EFRegistered now · Dehavilland DHC-2 MK. I(L20A)S/N 735 · Built 1954 Airframe modelDehavilland DHC-2 MK. I(L20A)Engine modelPratt & Whitney R-985 seriesReciprocating

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

Fishing guide exited to assist docking. Walked on float to prop. Was warned about prop. (From .4) the pilot of the float equipped fishing lodge airplane instructed his passenger, a guide employed by the lodge, to exit the airplane's cabin and stand on a float in preparation for docking at a remote site. The pilot reminded the guide, a new lodge employee unfamiliar with aircraft, to stay behind the door until he shut the engine off, and the propeller had stopped. The guide did not stay behind the door, but walked forward on the float prior to engine/propeller stoppage. The guide was fatally injured when he was struck by the propeller. (-23) fishing guide exited aircraft during taxi to the beach. He then walked forward on the right float into the propeller. The pilot stated that the guide had been briefed not to walk forward of the front door just prior to exiting the aircraft. Another guide confirmed this. The pilot was counseled about the need for maintaining a safe operation.

As the FAA filed it

FISHING GUIDE EXITED TO ASSIST DOCKING. WALKED ON FLOAT TO PROP. WAS WARNED ABOUT PROP. (FROM .4) THE PILOT OF THE FLOAT EQUIPPED FISHING LODGE AIRPLANE INSTRUCTED HIS PASSENGER, A GUIDE EMPLOYED BY THE LODGE, TO EXIT THE AIRPLANE'S CABIN AND STAND ON A FLOAT IN PREPARATION FOR DOCKING AT A REMOTE SITE. THE PILOT REMINDED THE GUIDE, A NEW LODGE EMPLOYEE UNFAMILIAR WITH AIRCRAFT, TO STAY BEHIND THE DOOR UNTIL HE SHUT THE ENGINE OFF, AND THE PROPELLER HAD STOPPED. THE GUIDE DID NOT STAY BEHIND THE DOOR, BUT WALKED FORWARD ON THE FLOAT PRIOR TO ENGINE/PROPELLER STOPPAGE. THE GUIDE WAS FATALLY INJURED WHEN HE WAS STRUCK BY THE PROPELLER. (-23) FISHING GUIDE EXITED AIRCRAFT DURING TAXI TO THE BEACH. HE THEN WALKED FORWARD ON THE RIGHT FLOAT INTO THE PROPELLER. THE PILOT STATED THAT THE GUIDE HAD BEEN BRIEFED NOT TO WALK FORWARD OF THE FRONT DOOR JUST PRIOR TO EXITING THE AIRCRAFT. ANOTHER GUIDE CONFIRMED THIS. THE PILOT WAS COUNSELED ABOUT THE NEED FOR MAINTAINING A SAFE OPERATION.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB ANC98LA112Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportNondalton, AKThe pilot's inadequate procedures/directives when he allowed a passenger to exit the cabin area while the propeller was still turning, and the passenger's failure to follow the pilot's instructions to stay away from the propeller. A factor associated with the…Jul 30, 1998 · No damage