Worker was hospitalized, but is now recovering at home, says report
An employee at a pilot training school in Manitoba was injured after being struck by the propeller of a small aircraft during a training session, according to a report.
The incident happened at St. Andrews Airport north of Winnipeg on Jan. 8, when a student pilot at Harv's Air Service Ltd. was preparing for a local flight in a Cessna fixed-wing aircraft, reported CBC.
The student attempted to start the engine using the startup checklist, but it "would start, sputter, and then quit," Transportation and Safety Board of Canada (TSB) spokesperson Chris Krepski said in an email to CBC.
"A Harv's Air employee noticed that the student was having difficulty and walked over to offer assistance," Krepski stated. "The employee hand-rotated the propeller and was subsequently struck by the propeller."
The employee was transported to hospital by ambulance with serious injuries, Krepski added. For privacy reasons, the TSB did not disclose the nature of the injuries.
Harv’s Air president Adam Penner said the injured employee was released from hospital on the day of the incident and is now recovering at home, reported CBC.
TSB, Transport Canada investigating incident
The TSB, which investigates aviation incidents to determine causes and contributing factors, classified the case as a Class 5 occurrence. This means the data will be recorded for statistical analysis but will not trigger a full investigation.
Transport Canada is also investigating the incident to assess Harv’s Air’s compliance with aviation safety requirements under the Aeronautics Act and the Canadian Aviation Regulations.
"Transport Canada is aware that a propeller struck a person at the St. Andrews Airport and is working with Harv's Air to verify compliance with aviation safety regulations," Transport Canada spokesperson Flavio Nienow said in an email to CBC News.
Meanwhile, Penner stated that Harv’s Air is cooperating fully with both investigations and has implemented measures to reinforce safety practices.
"We have reminded our employees and customers of how to safely handle aircraft propellers. We have reviewed the aircraft manuals and our training material in regards to propeller safety and general safety procedures," Penner said.
