physical injuries during walk-around

[WizardPilot]

How about "The Diamond" to the forehead from the trailing edge of the wing on just about all single engine Cessnas (well probably not the Caravan )? Not nearly as bad as the static wick story, but I'll bet I'm not the only one to get "The Diamond".

OH, is that what it is? I thought it was for my magical powers like Harry potter! I swear I got that plane to fly all by myself. I thought I was special until now, thanks for ruining my life west!

 

[User546]

I had a pretty nasty spill coming down off the mighty Seminole one day.

I was sitting right seat, so was the first to exit the airplane. The pilot who was still inside had the flaps set to 10 degrees, which for you guys that have flown the Seminole, knows that it makes the flaps nearly flush with the trailing edge of the wing. As I stepped off the wing, I placed my foot on the flap, and right as my other foot was stepping towards the step-post, the flaps collapsed underneath my weight, and I fell off-balanced onto the ramp where I twisted my ankle rather violently. I knew for sure that I had broken my leg, and laid there in shock for a few seconds. Once everyone knew I was okay, the laughing and jokes were on. Next time I flew the Seminole, someone had affixed a "Caution: Flaps" on the wing, with an arrow pointing down towards them.

Lesson learned: I always give the flaps a nice nudge with one foot before ever stepping on any of them!

 

[LR25]

Checking the nose gear on the DC-8, the 2 small doors on either side of the strut have 90 degree angles.

Anyway, I came up a little too close to one of them and got stabbed right on top of the skull.

Didnt really know what I hit and was looking for someone around that might have hit me with a crow bar.

I was swating at blue birds for about 5 minutes after that. ( Old Sat. Night Live skit)

 

[Kawasumi_Kichou]

At my height the tip tank tips on the C-402B were a constant menace--right at eye level. I made a habit of always keeping a hand on those tips when doing walkarounds. Was fortunate to never have one of those get me.

Did get my back scratched up and shirts ruined by under-wing fuel drains on a Travelair and a couple of Piper and Mooney singles. Also had a few pairs of trousers ruined by flap trailing-edge oil buildup on that Travelair and a Seminole.

So in the end more laundry damage than skin damage.

 

[Flyeys]

Weren't there some pics of a guy who got sliced open by those scimitars hanging off the ERJs? I swear, those things look like something from Death Race 2000. Of couse, the reason they're painted day-glo yellow is to make you look more stupid WHEN you run into them.

Nu

Never heard of someone getting seriously injured on thoes things, but Im sure its true because if you are over 6' your head is open game, especially standing up from checking the fuel vents.WHACK! but thats never happened to me...

 

[DrewBlows]

I was sitting right seat, so was the first to exit the airplane. The pilot who was still inside had the flaps set to 10 degrees, which for you guys that have flown the Seminole, knows that it makes the flaps nearly flush with the trailing edge of the wing. As I stepped off the wing, I placed my foot on the flap, and right as my other foot was stepping towards the step-post, the flaps collapsed underneath my weight, and I fell off-balanced onto the ramp where I twisted my ankle rather violently.

Wow, I always knew that threat was there, but I never heard of it actually happening to someone. I guess you are lucky your shin didn't hit the step. I was showed this when I got checked out in the Seminole and made sure it was one of the first things I showed my students. They should just paint "no step" on the flap.

 

[EagleRJ]

A couple times climbing into the Saab, I've hit my head on the open ignition switch guards on the overhead panel. They're pointed little pieces of metal that are guaranteed to draw blood every time. Crazy Swedes!

We've also had several people clobbered over the head by the 11-foot diameter propeller as it turns slowly in the wind. Backing up to look at something is definitely a no-no on the ramp.

Weren't there some pics of a guy who got sliced open by those scimitars hanging off the ERJs? I swear, those things look like something from Death Race 2000. Of couse, the reason they're painted day-glo yellow is to make you look more stupid WHEN you run into them.

Nu

Been there, done that, got the boo boo!

 

[shamrock]

I never realized what a klutz I was until read this thread and started thinking about it.

I helped a student push a 172 back into its tiedown and after getting the plane in the tiedown was bending down to unhook the towbar. As I was doing that my student put the tiedown rope through the eyelet on the wing and gave it a good pull, just enough to pivot the plane, more specifically the prop, right into my path. I stood up from my crouch and wham! got the edge of the prop in my forehead. No blood luckily. More where that came from, but you get the idea.

And for my grand finale, About a year and a half ago we were on a groundstop in TRI trying to get back to ATL. I was bored so I figured I'd go back and make sure the rampers didn't take my bag off. I kind of hopped up the airstairs on my way back up into the airplane (they were wet) and my foot slipped on one of the steps. Had both hands in the pockets of my overcoat so I couldn't catch myself. I fell forward and banged my forehead on the top step, my shin on the step I slipped on, then tumbled heels over head off the side of the airstairs. Next time you see a CRJ, take a look at how much room there is between the handrail and the stairs. I managed to do a full reverse tumble under/through the handrail, landing perfectly on my @ss. Ended up with the grooves of the step in my forehead and a REALLY bad scrape/bruise on my shin. Took over a month to heal and I still have a scar. If I hadn't been wearing thermals I probably would have scraped my shin to the bone.

Got a few days off from work though, so it wasn't all bad.

 

[GravityHater]

god, but we're a clumsy lot - don't tell the pax!!

 

[satpak77]

dang...

didnt realize this stuff was as common as it is.

To add further "I-feel-silly" to the mix, I was a line-boy for 4 years in college, and never had any accidents walking around, tugging, fueling, etc, airplanes.

go figure

(must be getting old....)

 

[Tail Gunner Joe]

The Splits

I split my pants from stem to stern, slipping on the ice during a wintery walkaround in MKE.

Theree was no physical harm - things just got drafty. I found some some duct tape in operations to hold things together so I could finish the trip.

 

[shamrock]

To add further "I-feel-silly" to the mix, I was a line-boy for 4 years in college, and never had any accidents walking around, tugging, fueling, etc, airplanes.

Start talking about incidents while working the line and you'll open up a whole new can of worms for me.

 

[ToiletDuck]

Just as dumb

After flying the C-172's a bunch I had to get into the 152 after my instrument so that I could get use to flying VFR again. During the preflight after checking the rudder i started to twlk to the cabin and the aileron caught me right on my forehead and cut me all the way across the front. No stitches but that little sharp edge sure made me bleed. Remember to duck on the little ones

 

[FN FAL]

Preflights are dangerous.

Whenever I would take a pilot flying with me in the 300 series cessna I was a parner in, they would always want to do the walk around with me. It's a great way to learn things.

Anyway, you'd warn them about the tip tanks, but they would wind up walking into them anyway. Bonkkkkk!

 

[Wang Chung]

I swear, those things look like something from Death Race 2000.

Death Race 2000 - Sly Stallone's finest work! Nice job on the obscure reference!!

got a spray of hydraulic fluid in the eye

When I was a USAF medic, I remember that "hydraulic fluid in the eyes" was one of the more popular flightline MX-related injuries.