DEN06LA103

The commercial pilot of an agricultural airplane was fatally injured when he was struck by the propeller while exiting the airplane. The airplane was standing with the brakes set and the engine running. A local aerial application flight had just ended when the accident occurred. A witness at the airstrip said he and another attendant had just finished loading another airplane with chemicals when the accident airplane taxied up. The witness said he walked into the chemical shed to write up the work order on the previous airplane. The witness said he could still hear the accident airplane's engine running. He said he then heard an unusual noise and walked out to see what it was. The witness said he saw the pilot on the ground next to the airplane. The witness said he ran over to him and immediately saw the pilot had suffered severe head trauma. An examination of the airplane revealed no damage and no systems anomalies that could have contributed to the accident.

On July 22, 2006, at 1109 mountain daylight time, the commercial pilot of an Ayres S2R-G10 Turbo Thrush agricultural airplane, N3298Y, was fatally injured when on exit from the airplane he was struck by the airplane's propeller. The airplane was standing with the its brakes set and the engine running. The accident occurred on the ramp of a private airstrip near Dexter, New Mexico. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The airplane was operating under the provisions of Title 14, Code of Federal Regulations Part 137 without a flight plan. A local aerial application flight had just ended when the accident occurred.

A witness at the airstrip said he and another attendant had just finished loading another airplane with chemical when the accident airplane taxied up. The witness said he walked into the chemical shed to write up the work order on the previous airplane. The witness said he could still hear the accident airplane's engine running. He said he then heard an unusual noise and walked out to see what it was. The witness said he saw the pilot on the ground next to the airplane. The witness said he ran over to him and immediately saw severe head trauma. He said he ran around the airplane and shut ithe engine off with the emergency switch and then ran back inside to call 9-1-1. The witness said that within minutes a fireman arrived and attempted to administer first aid. Other emergency personnel arrived shortly after and took over providing care.

A post accident examination of the airplane showed it stationary with the parking brake set, the engine off, and the propeller in feather. An examination of the airplane's systems showed no anomalies.