# NTSB ATL87LA143: Beech B100, N753D, Birmingham, AL, May 19, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: May 19, 1987, 06:25 local (11:25 UTC)
- Place: Birmingham, AL
- Coordinates: 33.610393, -86.759498 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.6104&lon=-86.7595&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Standing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/150) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal, 1 uninjured; on the ground: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report May 27, 1988
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 7430
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL87LA143
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/7430/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL87LA143

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Propeller/rotor contact to person, standing - engine(s) operating
  - procedures/directives - not followed, ground personnel (cause)
  - impairment(drugs), ground personnel (contributing factor)
  - inattentive, ground personnel (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE LINEMAN WALKED INTO THE PROP ARC OF THE OPERATING RT ENGINE AND WAS FATALLY INJURED AFTER DISCONNECTING A GROUND POWER UNIT (GPU) CABLE FROM THE RT ENGINE NACELLE. THE LINEMAN INITIALLY APPROACHED THE NACELLE FROM THE REAR, BUT WALKED FORWARD INTO THE PROP ARC AFTER DISCONNECT. THE FBO'S REPORTED NORMAL PROCEDURE FOR GPU DISCONNECT OPS ON THIS ACFT DIRECTED PERSONNEL TO APPROACH AND DEPART THE NACELLE AREA FROM THE REAR. THE PLT REPORTED THAT THE LINEMAN HAD PERFORMED GPU DISCONNECT PROCEDURES ON THIS ACFT WITHOUT ANY PROBLEM ON SEVERAL PREVIOUS OCCASIONS. TOXICOLOGICAL ANALYSIS WAS PERFORMED ON BLOOD AND URINE SAMPLES FROM THE LINEMAN: A LEVEL OF GREATER THAN 50 NG/ML CARBOXY THC WAS REPORTED TO EXIST IN THE URINE SAMPLE. THE REPORT NOTED THAT LEVELS OF GREATER THAN 50 NG/ML CARBOXY THC ARE 'TYPICALLY ASSOCIATED WITH VERY RECENT USE' (OF MARIJUANA). ADDITIONALLY, COCAINE AND MARIJUANA METABOLITES WERE DETECTED IN THE LINEMAN'S BLOOD SAMPLE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N753D (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: BEECH B100
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: BE-98
- Airframe hours: 1735
- Engines: AIRESEARCH TPE331-6-252B 715 horsepower turbo prop
- Damage: Minor damage
- Flight: Positioning, Part 91
- Operator: Jetco, Inc.
- Registered owner: B100 Corporation
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Unknown, April 30, 1987
- Destination: MOB, MOBILE, AL
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: BHM, Birmingham Municipal

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 48; commercial, flight instructor, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 15,669 total, 227 in this make and model, 15,469 as pilot in command, 163 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Dawn
- Wind: 150° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 2 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 500 ft overcast
- Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 70 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: BHM

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19870519014139A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870519014139A), May 19, 1987: Beech B100, Birmingham, AL, Minor damage, 1 fatal. A lineman dispatching N753D was struck by the propeller of the operating right engine. Lineman had used marijuana.

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

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