Safety Notice SN014 – Tail Rotor Injuries
Passengers and bystanders have been injured and killed by accidentally coming into contact with a rotating helicopter tail rotor.
A helicopter tail rotor spinning at a high rate of speed is not always noticeable to bystanders and passengers. This is particularly true if the tail rotor blades are not striped to make them more visible.
Always have the strobe lights flashing with the rotors are turning.
Instruct passengers in proper safety procedures, including approaching the helicopter only from the front or side. Instruct passengers to exit the helicopter to the front, never the tail. If necessary, shut down and stop rotors before allowing passengers to board or exit.
Always land and take off as far from people and structures as possible. Before landing, pay careful attention to the location of any children or adults who might approach the helicopter from the rear.