Why do people duck when getting off a helicopter?

For my part, it's habit and instinct. Most of my flying hours are in helicopters you have to climb up into. If the part you sit in is that high, the lifty-spinny Blades of Death usually are way too high to give you a flat-top unless you're parked on a slope or other uneven surface. read more

Helicopters can and do decapitate people on a regular basis—often because rotor tilt (possible in some types of craft), mechanical failure, or an inopportune gust of wind, brings a rotor tip down to head level—just for an instant. read more

I'm 5'7" and I duck going down the stairs with a 6' clearance. I think it's just natural to move your head away from something that could hit it, something as small as a door frame or a big as helicopter blades. They probably know they aren't that close to it, but automatically duck anyway. read more

This is what I was taught about approaching a helicopter. Heck, I duck when I'm getting off the train in the morning. read more