Agreed. I have been out and about on many private planes. Even knowing what I know, you really have to be thinking when you are around a plane when the engine is running. Bad things happen fast.

Even after being briefed, and then even after being told to walk behind the airplane, most people will walk the shortest path to the xxxxxxwhatever...

Most professional pilots (ones with a head on their shoulders) would never allow a running engine with a prop that would reach anyone on the ground to be turning while people could walk anywhere near the airplane.

Murphy was an aviator long before he was a liberal politician.

I fly in and out of Burbank a lot. There, you walk out to the plane, on some flights you can choose to board from the front or rear of the aircraft. They absolutely won't let you walk anywhere but the approved path. Too many amateur travelers, also known as tourists.

We all laugh and think idiot because it was a model. None of us were there. Just like millions of people weren't there in Florida last month.

Amen to that.


Ask any helo pilot about the tail rotor.

were any pit bulls involved in the attack of the model?

How exactly did this all happen - anyone know?

Did she disembark from the plane or was she just walking up to it?

Was there a pilot and crew or just a pilot?

Where were they when the accident happened?

Did the plane just finish landing, taxiing, or was it getting ready to take off?

Was she issued any safety instructions by anyone before the accident? If so by who and what exactly were they and when did she receive them?

Where was the plane and where was she in relation to the terminal when this happened?

What time of day or night was it?

Does she have any vision or hearing impairments (before the accident I mean)?

I think those are some questions we need answers to before assigning liability.

But maybe not :confused:

As a Flight Instructor I hand prop at least 2 planes a week. My hand is on the throttle on several flights a week as well when someone else spins the prop. I always walk around the wing tip before I enter the cockpit. I never load passengers with the engine running. I never prop an engine with another aircraft is nearby running. I have 38 year safety record. If another airplane is running it is hard to tell which plane is running.

I wasn't there either, but...
This is one of my biggest gripes with society today. It seems that an ever-growing majority of people think that it's justified to hold someone else accountable for their own actions. While it is tragic that something like this occurs, and any number of scenarios could have prevented it, the ultimate responsibility was hers. What kind of idiot walks into a rotating propeller? Probably someone who is self-absorbed and can't bother with common sense. She was a model...do you think she had the slightest feeling of entitlement to do whatever she wanted? She's lucky to be alive. I don't believe she's entitled to any compensation. She should cover her own medical bills. But that's just me living in a nanny state.

Plane had just landed from an aerial tour of Christmas lights.

So obviously night time.

Plane stopped, she got out and walked into prop.

Pilot only.

I had a "prop" incident years ago. Not a real plane, but gas R/C. Black blade, with two yellow stripes on each tip for visibility. I was giving the engine a tune-up and while at about 2/3 full frottle, I reached around the blade to feel the exhaust. I thought I was far enough out, as I did not see the yellow stripes. I put my left index fingertip and middle fingertip into the blade. Turns out the yellow blended in with the background. These priops spin at around 20,000 RPM's at full throttle.

The prop sliced both fingernails in half and cut the tip off my middle finger. Talk about pain.

I have also grown up around private planes and fly myself. You can't always see a spinning prop! Especially at night and certain other conditions.

Stop making the model out to be a bimbo. The pilot should have cut the engine and made sure there prop was not spinning before opening the door.

Accidents happen.

I have been dropped off and have dropped off passengers and I can see not cutting the engine.. Having said that I understand how an accident could happen.. But none of us were there so it's all speculation.
Dave is that your "why I don't play guitar so well" excuse ? hahaha

Todd, it was the very tip of my finger and it was not detached. Flopped it back over, taped it up and 10 excruciating hours later the pain subsided. I don't use it as an excuse. :D Procrastination, yes. :D

I don't like the fact that people don't admit their mistakes and look to blame someone else for their actions. But even if you admit making a mistake, some things should be idiot proof. A turning prop is such a high risk that proper safety precautions should be taken even if it is unlikely someone would walk into it. Either have someone who is properly trained block the path to it or have it off before possible access. If you read the original story, you will realize that this lady got mangled up really good and she has to start over in terms of her career and her lifestyle even. Some of you guys who have daughters, think about how you'd feel if it'd happen to your girl? "Ah sure, 200k will settle it, she can't put the blame on the pilot, she's the dummy here".


Cheers,

George

Model Survives Being Struck By Propeller - ABC News

Maybe she thought it was a jet?

Spot on! The above is correct and she did not do what the pilot told her to do. Why is he now responsible for her stupid actions?

Oh yea... she is a blonde... guess you have to stop the engine and get a seeing eye dog to lead her away...

I just don't like the blonde comments. Hair color has nothing to do with this.

Pretty funny, having Dave and Dr. Phil get into it over long blonde hair. ;)

G

I wasn't that solely at Dr. Phil. :D That goes for all of you, you, you... Guys.

I have seen pictures of both of you ... just sayin ... :)

G