Air Force contractor who walked into moving propeller had ‘inadequate training’ when killed

Inadequate training, poor lighting and other factors were to blame for the death of a California contractor killed after hitting a plane’s moving propeller in California last fall, officials found of the United States Air Force.

Stephanie Cosme, 32, of Palmdale, was struck and seriously injured on the evening of September 7, 2023, when she “inadvertently entered the rotating propeller of the parked remotely piloted aircraft” at Gray Butte Field. , according to an Air Force accident investigation report. .

Palmdale is a city in northern Los Angeles. The airfield where Cosme was killed is owned and operated by General Atomics and is located near Edwards Air Force Base in Kern County.

The total solar eclipse takes place today: Live updates on the latest forecast, everything you need to know

Noise and poor conditions also cause engineer’s death

Cosme, a test engineer for Sumaria Systems, was performing test support functions for the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, before striking the MQ-9A propeller during testing at ground and being killed, according to the report released Friday.

Other factors, including noisy conditions, poor conditions and rushing to complete testing, all contributed to Cosme’s loss of situational awareness during the incident, the report continued.

https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=532430096773127&set=a.157096124306528

Cosme lost situational awareness, tests were rushed

The chairman of the accident investigation committee, Brig. General Lance R. French determined that Cosme “did not receive improper instructions or training on how to take telemetry readings as the MQ-9A approached while the engine was running” and that she had lost situational awareness while walking around the aircraft taking telemetry readings with one hand. measuring device held.

According to the report, French also found “a clear lack of communication between the contractor’s testing team and ground support personnel.”

He also wrote that due to previous delays and cancellations, the tests conducted on September 7 “were rushed.”

Natalie Neysa Alund is a senior reporter for USA TODAY. Contact her at nalund@usatoday.com and follow her on X @nataliealund.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Air Force contractor Stephanie Cosme lost situational awareness.