Propeller strikes are often the second or third event of an evolving accident. The first event is often man overboard, collision, run aground, capsizing, sudden acceleration or deceleration, mechanical failure, hit rouge wave, hit high wake, etc. People tend to encounter a rotating propeller in one of the following scenarios:
Circle of Death
People in the water at the stern
Lines
Propeller shafts have fallen out of inboards allowing the boat to take on water (see 26 Apr 2006 media accident report from Scotland). Similarly, portions of stern drives have been ripped from the transom after hitting underwater or floating obstructions, allowing water to enter the boat. A 2003 accident reported 27 May 2006 in the media accident section tells of a propeller striking a rock, then tearing a hole in the boat which quickly sank. Some people are injured by a non-rotating propeller on a boat or by loose propellers. People tend to encounter non-rotating propellers in the following scenarios.
Some have drowned due to non-rotating propellers
Illegal or Criminal Behavior
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