# NTSB WPR10LA352: Beech A36, N4153Q, Las Vegas, NV, July 15, 2010 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 15, 2010, 16:30 local (23:30 UTC) - Place: Las Vegas, NV - Coordinates: 36.080001, -115.152221 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.0800&lon=-115.1522&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Prior to flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/100) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Prior to flight: Ground handling event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/080) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 19, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 76647 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR10LA352 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/76647/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=76647 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR10LA352 ## Probable cause The passenger's failure to maintain clearance from a turning propeller. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's inadequate preflight inspection. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Inspection: preflight inspection](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 551 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md) - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Prior to flight: Ground handling event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/080) (defining event); cases with it: [All aircraft, 108 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/080/sequence.md) ## Analysis The passenger reported that after loading the baggage, she and the pilot got into the airplane and the pilot attempted to start the engine. According to the passenger, the engine would not start and described it as running rough. When the engine finally started, the pilot attempted to move the airplane forward but realized the wheel chocks were still securing it. The passenger offered to help and exited the airplane. Without receiving instruction, she crawled under the right wing and forward to the right side of the nose of the airplane. As she leaned in to remove the chocks, the propeller struck her. After a Federal Aviation Administration inspector described a preflight inspection to the passenger, she stated that she could not recall seeing the pilot ever perform this action. The pilot reported that after he realized the chocks were still securing the airplane he did not want to shut down the engine due to the high outside air temperature. In the recommendation section of the National Transportation Safety Board 6120.1 form, the pilot stated that the accident could have been prevented by not allowing the passenger to exit the airplane while the engine was running. ## Factual narrative On July 15, 2010, about 1630 Pacific daylight time (PDT), a Beech A36, N4153Q, had a ground event when a passenger attempted to remove the wheel chocks and was struck by the propeller at McCarran International Airport, Las Vegas, Nevada. Connelly Equipment Rental Co. LLC, was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91. The private pilot was not injured, but the passenger sustained serious injuries. The airplane was not damaged. The cross-country personal flight had a planned destination of San Diego, California. The passenger stated that when the pilot and she arrived at the airplane they loaded the luggage and got into the airplane. The pilot attempted to start the engine, but it had difficulty starting, which she described as running rough and "putting." When the airplane finally started, the pilot attempted to move the airplane; however, the wheel chocks were still securing it. The passenger further stated she did not remember exactly what was said, but she did remember offering to help and he asked "would you mind hopping out and getting the chocks from the wheels." She stated that as she exited the airplane she did not receive any instruction and crawled under the right wing forward to the right side of the nose of the airplane. When she leaned in to remove the chocks the propeller struck her. During a telephone conversation, a Federal Aviation Administration inspector explained to the passenger the process associated with a preflight inspection and asked if the pilot had conducted one. The passenger stated that she did not recall him ever conducting a preflight on the airplane and that he usually just places the luggage in the airplane and goes. The pilot reported that after he realized that the chocks were still securing the airplane he did not want to shut down the engine because he did not believe it would start again due to the high outside air temperature. The pilot further stated that the van driver, who drove the pilot and passenger from the parking lot to the airplane, did not assist with loading the luggage or removing the wheel chocks as usual. The van driver reported that she did not remove the wheel chocks prior to leaving the pilot and passenger because the passenger stated that they were not ready. In the recommendation section of the NTSB 6120.1 pilot/operator form, the pilot stated that the accident could have been prevented by not allowing the passenger to exit the airplane while the engine was running. ## Aircraft - Registration: N4153Q (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: BEECH A36 - Category: Airplane - Serial number: E-2687 - Airframe hours: 5256 - Engines: CONT MOTOR IO-550 SERIES 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: No damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Connelly Equipment Rental Co LLC - Registered owner: Connelly Equipment Rental Co LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 2, 2010 - Departed: Las Vegas, NV - Destination: SEE, El Cajon, CA - Airport: KLAS, Mc Carran International ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 46; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review July 20, 2010; seat: left; flight hours: 1,203 total, 828 in this make and model, 65 in the last 90 days, 22 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 111 °F, dew point 36 °F - Altimeter: 29.82 inHg - Observed at: LAS ## 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 20100715040029A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100715040029A), Jul 15, 2010: Beech A36, Las Vegas, NV, No damage. On July 15, 2010 at 1620 PDT at Las Vegas, NV (mccarran airport) pilot of N4153Q, a Beech A-36 bonanza, started the engine, then realized the wheel chocks were… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 28, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=76647. 1.5 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 652 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40333709&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Passenger Statement: from FAA (item 2, .PDF, 494 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40347275&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Passenger%20Statement%3A%20from%20FAA-Redacted.PDF - Van Driver Statement (item 3, .PDF, 402 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40347276&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Van%20Driver%20Statement-Redacted.PDF 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.