Passenger Vs. Helicopter

[pelmet]

This one made me cringe more and more as I was reading it but fortunately, it appears to have turned out worse for the helicopter....

C-GCMD, a Yellowhead Helicopters Ltd. Airbus AS350 B-2, was conducting pipeline inspection
operations 60 NM NW of Fort St John (CYXJ), BC. After landing, while the engine and rotors
remained turning, passenger #1 exited the left side of the helicopter. He retrieved his tools from the
basket located on the left side of the helicopter, then proceeded around the nose of the helicopter,
to the jobsite located approximate 15 m to the right side of the helicopter. Several moments later,
passenger #2 exited the left side of the helicopter. He proceeded to the aft end of the helicopter
where he crossed under the tail boom. While crouched and passing under the tail boom, the
passenger was struck by the tail rotor. The passenger received minor injuries. The pilot shutdown
and secured the helicopter. The helicopter tail rotor blades were damaged. The pilot and
passengers were recovered from a nearby lease site. It was the first day on the jobsite for the
injured passenger, as well as his first time flying in a helicopter.

[digits_]

Wow. Impressive that you're able to damage a tail rotor and survive

[PilotDAR]

'Sounds like a very lucky outcome for a near brush with death. That said "damaged" in the context of AS350 tail rotor blades may mean that the "tell tale" tabs on the blades were bent, which triggers a requirement for inspection, though tabs aside, the helicopter may not be damaged.