Propeller Safety Reminder  
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Propeller Safety Reminder - 11/4/2003 2:46:19 AM   
sedunster



Posts: 121
Joined: 11/7/2002
From: Simpsonville, SC, USA
Status: offline 		First let me preface this with I WAS STUPID. Please learn from my stupidity... I know what I did wrong, please don't post to remind me. Also, I do not want sympathy. I made the mistake, I will live with the consequences.

With that said, a short reminder that a 12.25" APC prop spinning 13,000+ rpm is very dangerous. I do not have a digital camera, and I would be too embarassed to post a picture of my hand.

Saturday, I was tuning a Super Tigre 61. From the front, I read the tach at 13,400 and reached widely around the prop to tweak the high end needle. Although I reached around widely, the heel of my hand crossed the prop arc. The propeller cleared away the skin from my palm for about 1 square inch in a crescent pattern. It looks as though I was struck 15-20 times. Fortunately, the injury is only skin deep. I believe a few points need to be made/learned from my SCREW UP.

1. Many people practice safety with RC. I did 90+% of the time. For me that number will now be 100%.
2. It is too easy to stop/never follow safe practices. If you need pain to force safety, trust me IT HURTS.
3. Keep BEHIND the propeller at all times. If you don't, IT MIGHT HURT.
4. Use common sense. If you forget it like I did, I hope the severity of your injury doesn't keep you from being able to work.

I don't want to sound like I am preaching, but I don't want anyone else to get hurt if it can be avoided. I spend too much time on RCU to not care about other members. I have not been injured before in the last 2 1/2 years. Chalk it up to safe practices and/or luck. The next 25 years will be injury free due to SAFE PRACTICES. (with an ugly scar as a reminder) Darn the luck.

Steve
       Post #: 1

RE: Propeller Safety Reminder - 11/4/2003 3:41:47 AM   
Tmoth4



Posts: 1358
Joined: 3/14/2002
From: Brecksville, OH, USA
Status: offline 		I used to reach around props to make adjustments until about 10 years ago when a guy at my field did the same thing you did, except his multiple lacerations were on his forearm. I didn't actually see it happen but I'll never forget the sound of that prop chewing into his flesh. I have never reached around props since, even though I've been tempted to. I fly only big gassers now and can't imagine the damage one of those props would do to your hand or arm. Hats-off to you for owning up and reminding all of us of this safety issue.

Jim

(in reply to sedunster)
       Post #: 2

RE: Propeller Safety Reminder - 11/4/2003 4:55:02 AM   
sedunster



Posts: 121
Joined: 11/7/2002
From: Simpsonville, SC, USA
Status: offline 		Jim,
Sparing some detail, the motor slowed about 1000 rpm as it shaved my hand. There were small pieces of skin stuck to my shirt sleeve after the incident. It could have been much worse, I am just glad that it wasn't.

Steve

< Message edited by sedunster -- 11/6/2003 1:25:11 AM >

(in reply to Tmoth4)
       Post #: 3

RE: Propeller Safety Reminder - 11/4/2003 6:34:17 AM   
BasinBum



Posts: 5717
Joined: 7/24/2002
From: Hawthorne, CA, USA
Status: offline 		Ouch , good post.

(in reply to sedunster)
       Post #: 4

RE: Propeller Safety Reminder - 11/4/2003 4:36:12 PM   
RedWing



Posts: 539
Joined: 2/8/2002
From: Commerce Twp, MI, USA
Status: offline 		It all happens soooo fast!

I was holding a 38% extra with a DA 100 while the pilot was starting it.
Luckily it did not fire when the prop hit his hand.
Another flyer sitting in his car in the parking area heard the strike.
Ouch, no blood but I am sure it was numb for a while

_____________________________

R/C flying is not a hobby. It's a calling.
Hey, Watch this....

(in reply to BasinBum)
       Post #: 5

RE: Propeller Safety Reminder - 11/4/2003 4:53:11 PM   
FLYBOY



Posts: 8691
Joined: 1/7/2002
From: Missoula, MT, USA
Status: offline 		Man, that hurts. It is a good point though. Many of us, no matter how carefull we think we are, have done it.

Complacency sets in, and we get reminded the hard way. Hope you heal fast and can get back to it soon.

_____________________________

Fly it till the wings come off.

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       Post #: 6

RE: Propeller Safety Reminder - 11/4/2003 9:36:56 PM   
rclooney



Posts: 447
Joined: 3/11/2003
From: southport, UNITED KINGDOM
Status: offline 		just turning an engine with no combustion can hurt. i did it turning a diesel. just lubing it and the engine kicked back and hit me.no finger guard, just a big dent in my finger.

(in reply to FLYBOY)
       Post #: 7

RE: Propeller Safety Reminder - 11/5/2003 6:04:48 AM   
Herby 1


 

Posts: 10
Joined: 4/26/2003
From: Northern Arizona
Status: offline 		You don't have to close to the prop..I have a picture of a friend with 4 fingers bandaged up..He was about 6 feet in front of his plane, had a .90 four stroke on it..It backfired, the prop came off..He put his hand up to shield his face..Cut all 4 fingers bad enough for stitches..Our field record for stitches is 25, a very experienced pilot forgot he was tuning a pusher engine, reached for the needle...

(in reply to rclooney)
       Post #: 8

RE: Propeller Safety Reminder - 11/5/2003 7:00:17 AM   
GrnBrt



Posts: 6992
Joined: 12/5/2001
From: Everett, WA, USA
Status: offline 		You can't remind people to much about this. I have a nice scar on my forearm to remind me. I have been at this since the 50's and am proud to say that I have had very few injuries but it can happen. There is a guy that flies at this one field that reaches around the prop all the time and no amount of warnings helped, well he got it one day and after he was bandaged up guess what???? Yup he still does it, now stupid is as stupid does!!!


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Senior forum Manager

US Army Special forces, mess with the best, die like the rest!

(in reply to Herby 1)
       Post #: 9

RE: Propeller Safety Reminder - 11/5/2003 7:07:46 AM   
jcflysrc



Posts: 1118
Joined: 11/9/2002
From: Houston, TX, USA
Status: offline
quote:

Yup he still does it, now stupid is as stupid does!!!



Amen!

Watch those fingers !

_____________________________

It's all fun & games...till sombody gets hurt!

(in reply to GrnBrt)
       Post #: 10

RE: Propeller Safety Reminder - 11/5/2003 8:35:56 AM   
speed_freak1


 

Posts: 113
Joined: 9/30/2003
From: hampshire, UNITED KINGDOM
Status: offline 		i was lucky enough to be tuning my irvine .53 ( i know it is a small engine compared to what you guys use) but my hand slipped onn the needle and the prop went "BANG" the very tip of the prop (about 1/2 inch) embedded in to my right index finger (on the knuckles) and it stoped the engine. it hurt like hell and i have a nice dent in my knuckle.

so even if you stay behind the prop STILL BE CAREFUL!!

(in reply to jcflysrc)
       Post #: 11

RE: Propeller Safety Reminder - 11/5/2003 7:19:26 PM   
zxcv11



Posts: 380
Joined: 9/11/2003
From: Glenshaw, PA, USA
Status: offline 		Hmmmm....17 stiches here.....1 knuckle bared to bone/tendon. 3/4 finger nail removed. 3 fingers scars and a funky finger nail later(joint still aches too)....needless to say I don't go near a prop anymore without major concentration. All it took was adjusting needle-valve and 5 seconds of not concentrating. My father says he'll never forget that sound......I will never forget it, or the pain either. One good point....new name for the aircraft....'The Bloody Stump'!! Ironic it's already covered bright red...LOL

Good post....it can never be over-posted/stated!!!!!!!

Brian

(in reply to speed_freak1)
       Post #: 12

RE: Propeller Safety Reminder (OUCH) - 11/6/2003 6:23:05 AM   
sedunster



Posts: 121
Joined: 11/7/2002
From: Simpsonville, SC, USA
Status: offline 		I must say that I am glad to see the positive feedback from this post. I don't feel quite so stupid as I am (was).....

My intention with this post was to make people think about an issue that most neglect. I had brushed a prop here and there with no major injuries. FlyBoy hit it on the head with one word: COMPLACENCY. I was thinking that while I typed the original post.

I am healing well. The challenging thing has been to work with a bandage on my right hand and to keep it clean. I do physical work, so I keep it covered with a glove on my right hand over the bandage. Too many Michael Jackson references have been stirred. Four days with no sign of dirt or infection. I am a happy man.

Guys, thank you for taking the time to respond.

Steve

(in reply to zxcv11)
       Post #: 13

RE: Propeller Safety Reminder (OUCH) - 11/6/2003 9:41:16 AM   
Jimmbbo



Posts: 1179
Joined: 10/1/2003
From: Fresno, CA, USA
Status: offline 		Good post!! It is easy to become complacent if you run across the freeway a hundred times without getting hit, and likewise it is easy to be complacent around engines just 'cuz we do it all the time.

One of our club members lost his right forefinger to the first knuckle to a prop some time ago.... Everyone has been VERRRYY careful around spinning propellers since.

Best,

Jim

_____________________________

Have you flogged your crew today?

(in reply to sedunster)
       Post #: 14

RE: Propeller Safety Reminder (OUCH) - 11/6/2003 9:51:06 PM   
ballgunner



Posts: 2109
Joined: 2/1/2003
From: Payson, AZ, USA
Status: offline 		I remember ignition engines from the 30's when we started them by hand. If you started them without retarding the spark they'd backfire and nab you. The poor things were not powerful enough to do much damage. You might get bit when you reached around to advance the spark but usually not even broken skin. Most needle valves were aft of the cylinder but the spark advance was usually directly behind the prop which were always wood. Unfortunately I acquired some bad habits that stuck. Returning from WWII and into glow engines I had to learn the hard way. Scars are th