Ground incident involving BA 747 @ FAJS

[VSB via OL]

Heard on Highveld Stereo radio this morning in Joburg that ground engineer got his legs amputated whilst placing wheel chocks on a BA a/c at Joburg this morning. Initial reports are that he passed out and fell under wheels.

http://www.news24.com/News24/South_Africa/News/0,,2-7-1442_1957570,00.html

[Joetom]

Not much detail, but good to know the person covering the emergency stop button was on top of the job.
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This very important button is often left by its self when aircraft taxi on to stand, I can only guess staff are not trained or trainer told em button will operate when reqd.
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Simple, if the stop button does not have an operator, Aircraft should stop, the button is fitted for a reason, belive me......!!!
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My thoughts are with the injured staff and family......

[Dash-7 lover]

Similar-ish incident happened to me whilst on shift in ops in PLH many years ago with one of our Dash-7s @ LHR. It was a Sunday night flight from LHR-NQY-PLH with 46 peeps and the ground power unit was disconnected just before pushback. The connection point on the -7 was behind the right main gear strut. The chap disconnected the GPU once no's 1 and 4 were spinning and walked away but then remembered he hadn't closed the flap, which wouldnt have mattered anyway as the wind would have closed it. He stood behind the main gear to close the door as the aircraft started to push back and it crushed his legs up to the waist. Passengers and cabin crew witnessed the whole thing and the flight crew only realised when the CC1 aborted the cabin brief and ran to the front screaming like a banshee! Poor chap didn't make it. Pax had to be coached to NQY and PLH which took 5 hours and crew n/stopped LHR with the aircraft. One of those nights i'd like to forget......

[Joetom]

Chox are used for a reason, they will not stop aircraft moving, but if more people used em, we will have less accidents for sure...!!!!!!!

[Strepsils]

I don't mean to kick an injured man when he's down. but if I'm reading the course of events correctly he was in front of the wheels whilst the aircraft was still moving into place on stand, collapsed and was subsequently run-over?

If that's correct, why was he so close? Who do ground staff insist on thinking it's brave to approach the aircraft before it's parked and before the strobes are off?:(

Here in the UK we have to 6 foot rule to prevent exactly this kind of horrible accident occuring, I assume similar rules are in place in SA?

[Max Angle]

Here in the UK we have to 6 foot rule to prevent exactly this kind of horrible accident occurring,Which is almost universally ignored by ground personnel. Good point about the stop button, it never occured to me that it should be manned when you are taxing on to a stand but it makes sense. I have never seen anybody standing beside one in all the years I've been driving aircraft on to stands. One frequently sees (in parking guidance mirrors) ground crew walking right in front of the wheels trying to put chocks in before you have even shut down. Perhaps people will be a little more careful for while now, shame it takes an awfull injury to do it though, very sad.

[Leezyjet]

Good point about the stop button, it never occured to me that it should be manned when you are taxing on to a stand but it makes sense. I have never seen anybody standing beside one in all the years I've been driving aircraft on to stands.

It's SOP in my airline to stand by the button, although we are practically the only one's who do at LHR. Mind you on the occasions I've activated it, it made no difference and the a/c carried onto stand anyway - One Skipper's excuse - well we saw the sign flashing but as nobody was waving their arms around we carried on :eek: :mad:

WhY do ground staff insist on thinking it's brave to approach the aircraft before it's parked and before the strobes are off?

Complacency I guess. We have a couple of engineers who walk up the centerline while the engines are still running and before the a/c is chocked to have a nosey around the main gear - just yesterday one of them was standing right infront of the 744 as it reaced the parking line, but didn't actually stop. Stupid :mad: had to jump out of the way.

It really irks me when I see it, but engineers, like pilots are untouchable and never get called in for a b****cking.

Hope the guy in JNB is ok.

:)

[VSB via OL]

I understand he will be fine and injuries although serious - are not as serious as first thought - only amputation on right side.

It is thought that perhaps the a/c rolled back rather than him fainting......

[Joetom]

A few points for an arriving aircraft.
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1/ Stand should be empty inside the lines and no FOD.
2/ Emerg Stop button should have a person in position.
3/ Chox fitted in a correct fashion when engines and lites off.
4/ Pilots advised Chox fitted.
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It appears that the above is rare, the rule book seems to get red just after a person is hurt or aircraft gets damage, the book then gets put away.???:ugh:

[slender]

I am affraid it has got nothing to do with stupidity , or ignorance, and saying so is not fare to the engineers.
I believe it is simply a shortage of staff. Responsibilities of a few people piled up on just one person who ,if doesn't perform, gets b....cking!
And I don't think this is about to change. Our turn oround takes 25 to 30 min and believe me we are under pressure. We can relax in cruise ( mind you not for long in my company) but I dont think engineers have the same comodity , and work round the clock.Just my thought

[Shiny side down]

A terrible accident.

I have had a chat with the ground handlers before regarding their attitude to parking aircraft, but It seems to go in one ear out the other. I suspect they think I'm being a prat.
It irks me to be arriving on stand with vehicles all over the place or hastily being moved out of the way, barely outside of the area, with guys milling about.
From my point of view, when the aircraft is arriving on stand the entire team outside should be paying attention to the aircraft, not laughing and joking which often seems the case. Guys walking up with chocks before we've even set brakes, etc. Some scary stuff seen. And a lot of it in the UK.
Is it a case of 'i've never seen it happen, won't affect me?'

[Joetom]

SSD.
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Think your view is about rite.
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These events often effect airline/airport staff and aircraft, the passengers don't often come to harm, am sure they do at times.
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This process will not be fixed until a big ding with lots of Dollars and the insurance chapps will ask problem to be fixed......:ugh: :ugh: :ugh:

[keel beam]

BA have just issued a safety notice ref the chock incident, but also an incident involving a traffic cone being suck out of the hands of the ground handling person and into the operating engine.
I took copies of the safety notice and handed them to the local handling agency duty manager, asking him to re-iterate the procedures of meeting an A/C on stand to his staff.
Hopefully someone elses mistake will be a wake up call to everyone else involved in aircraft ramp activities.

[Leezyjet]

KB,

That same safety notice had been issued by my lot too.

Just hope people pay attention too it - although I fear that the "aircraft may only approached with engines running by specially trained personnel" will mean the engineers think it rules them out - when they are often the worst offenders :uhoh:

:hmm:

[dustybin]

I am cabin crew and it makes me want to scream when i see ground staff doing daft things. I put in an ASR the other week about ground staff not putting pigs out to stop pax walking under the props, they say they will stand under the wing then turn the other way. Inless they have eyes in the back of their head this is stupid, i have already witnessed pax walking between props in high winds:eek: I also watched 2 dispatchers playing with the props, i reported this to the captain who had a strong word with them, his reason for it, he was told to in training:ugh:

[keel beam]

Leezyjet - valid point about some engineers. Lets not forget the 2 engineers, in recent times, sucked into engines. The safety alert associated with one of thse incidents show a picture of the aftermath - NOT A PRETTY SIGHT!
All it needs a slight lapse of concentration and slurrrrp munch, the engine has had it's meal.......

[FullWings]

Nasty accident. I have to say I have quite an aversion to standing close in front/behind the gear - I look at it from the side and peer round during the walkround. I agree with everyone else about the bad habits which build up in the ground crew; unfortunately, something like this needs to happen to stop someone being killed. A rubber tyre @ 200psi rolling over your foot might as well be made of concrete, considering the resulting damage... :ouch:

[Jet II]

although I fear that the "aircraft may only approached with engines running by specially trained personnel" will mean the engineers think it rules them out

If the engineers arn't the 'specially trained personnel' - who are?:confused:

[TheOddOne]

If the engineers arn't the 'specially trained personnel' - who are?

In my book, the ONLY people specially trained are our Airport Fire Service, who are required on occasion to inspect undercarriage following an incident. They are wearing FULL Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) including a full-face vizor and helmet, completely enveloping fire-proof suit, boots, gloves etc. Even then, they insist on confirmation via RTF that the relevant engine is shut down and the park brake applied before approaching.

They also approach on a fore-and-aft line, so that if the wheel rims/sidewalls of the tyres let go, they don't collect the bits. If you've ever seen a wheel rim go, you'll know what I mean!

Anyone wearing less PPE certainly isn't 'specially trained'

TheOddOne

[Gulf News]

Operating B773 with ground movement camera one gets to see close up some of the scariest behavior from ramp personnel. In many instances tyhe people concerned are unaware that they can be seen. One practise I find quite alarming at certain stations whilst taxing onto the stand, is the tow bar conveniently situated on the centerline just outside the stop mark in readiness for connection and a group of groundies all gathered around it.
Whilst I will always do my best to stop the aircraft at the correct point there may however be a time where for one reason or another I get it wrong and run over the tow bar which will come apart big time and probably take a few bystanders with it.

Discussions with the people concerned reveal that their view is that it is normal procedure and poses no risk. I have raised this issue with our safety department who have raised it with engineering who have raised it with the GHA = still happens regularly.

Like a previous poster I think that the ground staff think I am a granny but whilst I stand to loose my licence the people who follow practices like the one mentioned above stand to loose a lot more.

[Jet II]

If the engineers arn't the 'specially trained personnel' - who are?
In my book, the ONLY people specially trained are our Airport Fire Service,


sorry but your having a laugh - the Airport fire services have ZERO training about working around running engines.

Ever wondered why its the Engineers who do the manual starts?

[TheOddOne]

Jet II,

With all due respect, if you read the rest of the post, you will see the circumstances under which they operate when inspecting undercarriages i.e. relevant engine shut down, park brake applied, FULL PPE worn. Yes, they receive extensive training in this environment. come down to our Fire Training rig at LGW and have a look. Most realistic, even down to exploding tyres, etc.

TheOddOne

[FIMbar the Furious]

If the engineers arn't the 'specially trained personnel' - who are?
In my book, the ONLY people specially trained are our Airport Fire Service, who are required on occasion to inspect undercarriage following an incident. They are wearing FULL Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) including a full-face vizor and helmet, completely enveloping fire-proof suit, boots, gloves etc. Even then, they insist on confirmation via RTF that the relevant engine is shut down and the park brake applied before approaching.
They also approach on a fore-and-aft line, so that if the wheel rims/sidewalls of the tyres let go, they don't collect the bits. If you've ever seen a wheel rim go, you'll know what I mean!
Anyone wearing less PPE certainly isn't 'specially trained'
TheOddOne


The Odd One could you please let me know which is the book that you refer to in your post and which NAA the publisher is approved by.

Could you also please let me know which fire services are trained so that I can use them the next time one of my Licensed Engineers needs to carry out a leak check or adjustment on an engine running. I assume the fire service is also appropriatly authorised to certify the aircraft back to airworthiness.

[Jet II]

Jet II,
With all due respect, if you read the rest of the post, you will see the circumstances under which they operate when inspecting undercarriages i.e. relevant engine shut down,
Exactly - we are talking about working around running engines. :rolleyes:

[rhovsquared]

A few points for an arriving aircraft.
.
1/ Stand should be empty inside the lines and no FOD.
2/ Emerg Stop button should have a person in position.
3/ Chox fitted in a correct fashion when engines and lites off.
4/ Pilots advised Chox fitted.
.
It appears that the above is rare, the rule book seems to get red just after a person is hurt or aircraft gets damage, the book then gets put away.???:ugh:

I'm definitely noting this down... i don't know why yet:} ... really...I don't:confused: , but i'm noting it down
Excellent post and interesting :D :D :D
rhov :)

[HZ123]

In the last post as a UK ramp trainer I refute no2. To my knowledge there is no person dispatcher / ramp agent that has the role of the 'stop button'. It is to be activated before the a/c comes onto stand. I would agree that it would make great sense for someone to be positioned there. No3 what is the correct chox locations it differs considerably and often there placement is ineffective.

[Deal or No deal]

If an APU failiure is present, then ground crew need to chock and provide a GPU unit BEFORE engines are shut down and the beacon is off.....

That's all I'm gonna say!!!!

[keel beam]

If an APU failiure is present, then ground crew need to chock and provide a GPU unit BEFORE engines are shut down and the beacon is off.....

That's all I'm gonna say!!!!

Just the nose wheels chocked. There is no need for the main wheels to be chocked until the engines are shut down and the beacon is switched off.

I have had to stop ground personnel from installing main wheel chocks on a couple of occasions while the engines are running.

It seems, from my experience, that the ground staff have no idea how dangerous operating engines are.

[Flyboy543]

I don't work for BA but the safety bulletin mentioned earlier has been circulated around the company that I work for. One thing drilled into new employees and current ones too is not to approach an aircraft until it is safe to do so. This is decided by the captain/FO when they switch off the anti-collision lights, then and ONLY THEN do we approach the aircraft to chock etc... The only exception being if the a/c has unserviceable APU when only the nose of a/c is approached as described before. Very rarely do I see this procedure not followed.

Ground staff are by no means perfect and mistakes are bound to happen when airlines put pressure on us to turn around a/c in 25mins with 160+ bags off-loaded and 160+ bags loaded. Just a shame that it takes something like this to remind some of the dangers.