An Analysis of Civil Aviation Propeller-to-Person Accidents: 1965-1979

摘要

The interest of manufacturing, governmental, and safety personnel using paint schemes on propeller and rotor blades is based on improving the visual conspicuity of those blades when they are rotating. While propeller and rotor paint schemes may serve to reduce the number of fatalities and injuries due to contact with a rotating blade there is little information available regarding analyses of the circumstances surrounding such accidents. Brief reports provided by the National Transportation Safety Board of all 'propeller-to-person' accidents from 1965 through 1979 were examined and analyzed in terms of airport lighting conditions, actions of pilots, actions of passengers and ground crew, phase of flight operation, weather conditions, and others. Analyses based on a total of 319 accidents showed a marked drop in the frequency of 'propeller-to-person' accidents from 1975 through 1978. Several types of educational efforts directed toward pilots and ground crew, both prior to and during that 4-year period, were examined as possible factors contributing to the accident rate decline. Accident patterns provide a basis for assessing the probable efficacy of various recommendations (including propeller conspicuity) for further reducing 'propeller-to-person' accidents. (Author)