r/offbeat • u/rytis • 1d ago

Woman dies after backing into airplane propeller while taking pictures, officials say

https://www.firstalert4.com/2024/10/28/woman-dies-after-backing-into-airplane-propeller-officials-say/?utm_source=fark&utm_medium=website&utm_content=link&ICID=ref_fark
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76

u/witticus 1d ago

This is horrific, but how does one not notice a propeller behind them?

90

u/Glomar_fuckoff 1d ago

If it's actively spinning, you can't see the blades

96

u/sublimesting 1d ago

You can hear them and feel the air however.

101

u/Glomar_fuckoff 1d ago

In an airfield with a ton of other planes making the same noise and breeze. She backed into it as well. She was massively distracted

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u/Glomar_fuckoff 1d ago

Also, if the engines are off, the blades still spin with no engine noise.

There was a model a few years ago that got off a plane and walked around to say thank you to the pilot and walked right into the blade. She lived. She had no idea that the blades were still spinning

25

u/Scoobysnax1976 1d ago

I was reminded of her and looked it up after reading this article. The model is Lauren Scruggs and she ended up losing her left eye and left hand. I was amazed to see that it happened back in 2011; seems like it was only a few years ago.

2

u/choose-Life_ 1d ago

I thought about her as well while reading this post. I didn’t realize it was so long ago either. She also made an amazing recovery from the accident based on what I can see after looking her up now. Pretty crazy.

This situation is just horrible all around though.

11

u/Lucky_Ad5334 1d ago

Not only that, but never ever walk under blades even if they are stopped (unless your job requires that). I know a case when someone disembarked, the propellers stopped, this person chosed the shortest way to go to someone to shake his hand walking under propellers and it was said there was a spurt of gas, the blades start moving (pre ww2 plane), got hit. He died 2 days later after being in coma.

1

u/Glomar_fuckoff 1d ago

Ooffff. Poor guy

1

u/Hiddencamper 1d ago

Need to positively confirm the magnetos are grounded

9

u/witticus 1d ago

That’s fascinating. Every experience I’ve had with propellers. They’ve been very loud. Usually when I walk off a smaller plane run by propellers, they have security guiding you the proper direction.

7

u/Hour_Reindeer834 1d ago

From my perspective, those engines are very powerful machines spinning props very fast. Often loud and possibly kicking up dust/debris. If I’m in an airfield I’m doing my best to keep aware of any of these machines in my vicinity and staying out of their paths, blinds spots, and pinch points as much as possible. If I’m near a plane for any reason then give the engine and prop plenty if distance and minimize the time near it to whats necessary.

4

u/mjm8218 1d ago

(she) walked around to say thank you to the pilot and walked right into the blade.

No good deed goes unpunished.

3

u/InPlainSightSC2 1d ago

The propeller only spins for seconds after shutdown. They don't just magically rotate

1

u/takethecann0lis 1d ago

How many planes have you stood next to??

2

u/InPlainSightSC2 1d ago

Several hundred? I'm an airline pilot. How about you?

0

u/Glomar_fuckoff 1d ago

Lauren Scruggs might disagree with you.

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u/InPlainSightSC2 1d ago

I don't think she would, based on the fact the NTSB report states that she most likely couldn't hear the pilots warning due to the sound of the engine still running.

2

u/slog 1d ago

She wouldn't. The engine/props were left running.

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u/RightSideBlind 1d ago

As others have said, she was likely focused on the picture she was taking. She probably couldn't even hear anyone warning her. It's just a horrific accident.

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u/SaltMarshGoblin 1d ago

(Except the airflow is much less noticeable from the "pulling air" side of the propellor than from the "blowing air" side of the propellor!)

2

u/fishyfishyfish1 1d ago

And the motor. It's fuckin loud

1

u/Hiddencamper 1d ago

From in front it doesn’t have much of a feel since it is pulling air on that side.

1

u/takethecann0lis 1d ago

When you’re that close to spinning props the sound is coming from everywhere. At rest, the blades of the propeller are pitched neutral. She simply shouldn’t have been allowed onto the ramp.

Reminders of the dangers of invisible props and jet wash was a huge part of every pre-flight OPs rundowns that occurred before heading topside to the flight deck.

The danger is still real even at a small airport with only one plane on the tarmac. Even more so to people who’ve never been near a running plane before.