- Date
- May 25, 1994, 18:15 local (May 26, 1994, 01:15 UTC)
- Place
- Friday Harbor, WA
- Injuries
- 1 serious
- Damage
- No damage
- Phase of flight
- Taxi
- Aircraft
- N6782Lde Havilland DHC-2
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report January 12, 1995
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19940525032609A
- Case key
- 41961
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's accidental extension of his hand into the arc of the turning propeller. Factors include high winds during the docking process.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
While taxiing the float-equipped airplane to docking, the pilot shut off the engine ignition, and immediately exited the cabin. He then quickly walked forward on one of the floats in order to keep the aircraft from contacting the dock. As he walked past the propeller, which was still turning, he extended his hand to maintain balance, and the propeller impacted his wrist.
Factual narrative
On May 25, 1994, approximately 1815 Pacific daylight time (PDT), the pilot of a float-equipped DeHavilland DHC-2, N6782L, was struck by the propeller of his aircraft while docking at Friday Harbor Seaplane Base. None of his five passengers were injured, and the aircraft was not damaged. The FAR Part 135 passenger flight, which departed Orcas Island about ten minutes earlier, was operating in visual meteorological conditions at the time of the accident. The aircraft was on a company VFR flight plan, and there was no ELT activation.
According to the pilot, who was taxiing to docking in winds of about 15 knots, he jumped out of the aircraft soon after shutting off the engine ignition. Although the propeller was still turning, he moved quickly to the front of the float so he could keep the aircraft from contacting the dock. As he moved forward on the float, he extended his arm to help maintain balance, and the propeller hit one of his wrists.
The pilot's injuries were classified as serious on June 28, 1994.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N6782L
- Reported as
- de Havilland DHC-2
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 820
- Airframe hours
- 10,109
- Engine
- P&W R-985, 450 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- No damage
- Flight
- Part 135
- Registered owner
- Kenmore Air Harbor, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · May 12, 1994 · 56 hours before
- Departed
- ORS · Orcas Island, WA
- Flight plan
- Company VFR
- Airport
- WA24 · Friday Harbor
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 37
- Certificates
- Flight instructor, Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine sea, Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 2,414 total · 511 in this make and model · 2,332 as pilot in command · 50 in the last 90 days · 50 in the last 30 days · 5 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 245° at 15 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility
- 30 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 68 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N6782L · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.