A couple of summers ago, I broke out a Byron Sukoi with a ST 90 on board.......Swinging an 18 or 19 inch APC prop ....I doubted it would ever start.....It came to life on about the 3rd or 4th pull.......My friend had the tx...and I was the front-end man......He was holding with his legs...and commenced to run the tiger up....It ran perfectfully......At full throttle..My friend told me to remove the glow starter.
With my left hand ...I stuck it into the prop....Brain Fart.
Well ......it cut off the index about 1/2 inch behind the nail...the thumb was severed at a 45 degree angle from 1/2 inch behind the nail.
It broke the APC prop and stopped the engine.
My fingers were picked up and placed in a sandwich bag, and placed in a cooler....I was transported to ER
$17,000 later and a lot of therapy...I have my fingers back....NUMB, but on my hand.
My Point;
Beginners.......don't become complacent in this hobby...Take nothing for granted....One brain fart can cost you...
It took me a year to ever start and remove my ni starter.
This hobby is dangerous...It must be respected at all times.
If my injury scares the S**t out of just one person it is worth telling what a dummy I was.
I am back flying, and I am ok.....I am a little wiser....I stuck my hand into a lawnmower that was looking me in the face.
Good luck my fellow flyers...be careful
DOC