# NTSB NYC02LA199: Cessna 208B, N9347B, Pawtucket, RI, September 29, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 29, 2002, 16:00 local (20:00 UTC) - Place: Pawtucket, RI - Coordinates: 41.920555, -71.491111 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.9206&lon=-71.4911&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Standing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/150) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 1 uninjured; on the ground: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report May 13, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA FSDO-01 - NTSB case key (mKey): 55794 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC02LA199 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/55794/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC02LA199 ## Probable cause The parachutist's failure to obtain the proper touchdown point, which resulted in contact with the operating propeller of a parked airplane. ## 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 - proper touchdown point - not obtained, other person (cause) ## Analysis After a parachute drop flight, the airplane taxied back to the ramp area. The airplane was parked on the ramp, with the engine running, while the next group of parachutists were boarding the airplane. During that time, a parachutist who had just landed, contacted the propeller and sustained a serious injury. Witnesses reported observing the parachutist descending toward the airplane without altering her course. One witness reported he "tackled" the parachutist to the ground; however, the parachute became entangled in the airplane's propeller and subsequently dragged the parachutist into the propeller. The parachutist had completed an estimated 18 prior jumps, which included 4 jumps at the accident airport. Winds reported at the airport, about the time of the accident were calm. ## Factual narrative On September 29, 2002, about 1600 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 208B, N9347B, was not damaged while stopped on the ramp at the North Central State Airport (SFZ), Pawtucket, Rhode Island, when a parachutist contacted the propeller. The certificated airline transport pilot was not injured; however, the parachutist sustained serious injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed for the parachuting flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. During an interview, the pilot said he landed after conducting his tenth parachute drop flight of the day, and while taxing back to the ramp, he stopped to ensure that all the parachutists had landed. The pilot did not observe any further canopies, and taxied back to the ramp. The airplane was parked on the ramp, with the engine running, while the next group of parachutists were boarding the airplane. The pilot then heard screams and observed a canopy enter the propeller. The pilot immediately shut down the engine. Witnesses reported observing the parachutist descending toward the airplane without altering her course. One witness reported he "tackled" the parachutist to the ground; however, the parachute became entangled in the airplane's propeller and subsequently dragged the parachutist into the propeller. The parachutist had completed an estimated 18 prior jumps, which included 4 jumps at SFZ. The pilot estimated that the normal parachutist landing zone was between 50 to 300 feet from the ramp area. Winds reported at the airport, about the time of the accident were calm. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9347B](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9347B-2013-08-23), registration cancelled 2013-08-23, S/N 208B0059, built 1988 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 208B - Registry model: [Cessna 208B](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-208b) (registry code 2073701) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney PT6A series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-pt6a-series) (registry code 52032, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 208B0059 - Airframe hours: 8000 - Engines: Pratt & Whitney PT-6A-114A 675 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: No damage - Flight: Other work use, Part 91 - Operator: Boston-Providence Skydiving Center - Registered owner: Kevin McCole - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: SFZ, Pawtucket, RI - Destination: SFZ - Airport: SFZ, North Central State ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 44; injuries: none; airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review March 1, 2002; seat: left; flight hours: 4,900 total, 700 in this make and model, 4,850 as pilot in command, 200 in the last 90 days, 75 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 43 °F - Altimeter: 30.22 inHg - Observed at: SFZ ## 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 20020929030329A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020929030329A), Sep 29, 2002: Cessna 208B, Pawtucket, RI. (-23) Rhode island aeronatutics commission - al moder investigated accident. Accident involving a parachutist @ north central airport (sfz) @ 1630EDT on… 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.