Well, I have been reluctant to post this because of all the grief I will probably get for being stupid. But in the interest of learning here goes. this picture is what happens when your arm gets hit by an 18x6 prop turning about 4000 rpm. the cut is about 4" long and was 2" deep. Severed the muscle. But I was extremely lucky - it missed the nerves and tendons; because of that I will only be down for about 3 weeks of light use and two months of rehab. this picture was taken two weeks after the accident. I know you are dying to know what happen. Well starting a 1/4 scale Cap, Saito 1.80. !st mistake - Didn't notice the throttle was half open. 2nd mistake - starting the plane alone without tiedown. 3rd mistake - tranmitter not in easy reach. When I kicked it over it instantly went to about 4K, jumped forward, wing hit leg turning prop into arm. 5.5 hours in emergency room, surgery, and about $11K repair bill to BC/BS.

Ouch!



Holly molly thats a nasty one!

Hang in there,

shmo

Glad everything turned out the way it did... could have been devastating. I cringe at the thought...

Look at this way, now you have a battle scar to bring up on those Saturday mornings you're at the field with your flyin' buddies.

Taker easy, and get healed

Hey Splais,
Sorry about your misfortune. The problem is that could happen to any of us at anytime. The problem is that we never think it'll happen to us.

Guys, please belief it. I know I just ordered a Midwest plane holder. Does anybody else know of a good plane holder on the market?


Splais, I know that was terrible, but I'm glad your counting your blessing. Thanks for helping us to be safe.

God Bless,
Dan

Here is my finger from a little ol' .36 at idle. A spinning prop is very unforgiving!!

Wow, thats some pretty serious flesh alterating. I may print these out and post them at our field, as a "reminder" to people of what could happen, even with the small motors. I took 7 stitches in the top of my pinky finger in December, due to catching the edge of a flourescent shop lite fixture in my garage (of all things). I still have soreness in it at times, even though the outside is healed, scar is quite apparent. So its not just at the field where stuff like that can happen.


Hope both of you heal up,
Steve

ah man glad your ok now, that looks terrible! well a guy at our field was starting up his plane and got a little careless, but instead of getting a 4 inch gash in his skin, it was his jacket that got ripped, he was very lucky!

Greetings Splais,

I must say that I feel for you because of the resulting pain and suffering (mentally, physically, and financially) that you had to go through. That is one of the most graphic examples of what CAN happen that I have ever seen.

I also salute you, for it takes a lot of guts to share an experience such as this with the rest of us, since it could have been avoided if the necessary precautions (as you so honestly described) had been followed.

Hopefully, because of your willingness to share your mishap, more people will be "field-aware" of how dangerous this "HOBBY" can be, and use your experience as a much-needed reminder.

May the rest of your flying days be pleasant ones.

Weldo

At least in Canada health care is somewhat free.

Man that looks nasty. I took a few strands of catgut from a CF tail rotor blade when I got started in helis, But nothing like yours.

Get some rest and hope you have a speedy recovery

I can relate. When I was about 24 (I'm 37 now) just getting into R/C, I did one of these.

Get this though. I REACHED THROUGH THE PROP TO REMOVE THE GLOW STARTER !! :stupid:

Required a guy to stop the engine, another to hold my thumb and forefinger together, another to drive me to the hospital.

Since then I have gained the respect of anything that turns knives around at high RPM. I even think twice about how I am about to use my circular and band saws.

Don't feel too bad. There are others out there that have brain fade too.

AcroFlyer

Moki 1.35, 18X8 APC, 4 months and 9 days ago. Index finger is 3/8" shorter and half the middle one is gone. I was off work for 7 weeks and am still re-learning how to write and type due to major nerve damage to the shortened index finger. Always, ALWAYS have someone holding a larger plane when you flip it by hand. This one went to high throttle as it started. The impact broke the firewall out of the plane and it still had enough energy to throw half of my middle finger 150'. It was too badly damaged to re-attach.

Splais

I like the others am sorry this happened also.

I am only 9 months into the hobby and at the end of my 4th month I was doing my first engine break in at the field on my newly purchased (second plane) "WM super stunts 60". I thought I knew what I was doing so I did not even bother asking for help. I tied the plane down and went to kick the engine over after all test were done, well to my surprise the engine kicked off on the first try sending me into a panic, *wondered if the needle was set right* so here I go at 1/3 throttle I reached for the valve from in front of the plane forgetting everything I was tought by my instructor's

The prop was a 12X8 spinning so fast I thought I had it cleared *was used to my little 10X6* and the tip of the prop tore me up

Lucky for me it was on a Sunday and the field was full of members that all came to my aid. I got a ride to the ER at one of the local hospitals and received 30 total stitches with laceration's including nerve damage on all fingers on my right hand.

What hurt most out of the whole ordeal were the locals the nurse gave me straight into the wounds, Man did that hurt.

Blackie

Hey Guys, I'm a doctor and an R/C enthusiast, everyone should look at these shots and pay attention. Don't fly alone, Restrain your plane,double check the throttle twice before you apply the starter cone, you all use an electric starter don't you....,and keep a first aid kit in your flight box.
Cuda

Hey Doc.....we all know the saftey procedure's and that's the scary part. This can happen to someone who's been flying for a long time and considers themselves to be observing all the common sense safty procedures. With everyone being human it's easy sometimes to get distracted and do something that you really shouldn't do......Your absolutely correct in what you are saying about safty and i'm not disagreeing with you at all.....it's just that there is always that human element .....just my thoughts.....maybe I should get into model trains

The worst part of this is - is that I am a very careful person. I'm sure I looked right at that transmitter and never noticed the open throttle. The second really bad mistake was setting the transmitter down to far away to quickly reach with a free hand if I had a problem.
Buy the way. If you are ever in an emergency situation at the flying field with blood flowing - fuel tubing makes an excellent tournaquet! We have now put a two foot piece in our first aid kit.

DLT
I agree that human error and accidents happen. It can and will happen . About 3 years ago I was out with a great friend and experienced modeler who got excited or frustrated at his YS 91 starting erratically and reached right thru the APC tip spinning at full bore, I was a few planes away and the others yelled for help, I Popped him in my truck and off we went to the ER , where 30 to 40 stitches later I had him back together.I just want everyone to be prepared and not to panic if the worst happens. Apply pressure, have them lie down and get to help ASAP. Take any parts if missing and can be found ,but don't waste time if not easily found.Don't fly alone.don't fly alone,don't fly alone........
R/C is the greatest hobby I have found, and I have tried alot.Keep doing it, build, assemble, buy and fly, whatever turns on your dreams .Just be smart when it comes to safety..I will now get off my soapbox , sorry
Cuda

I preach safety when ever I am at the field. Some laugh at how far I take an inspection of my own planes. I fly some big ones swinging 20" to 24" props. I always have someone assisting me no matter what the size is. Keep it safe, you can never take safety too far.

Hey Chook and Cuda.....Stay on that soap box!!! When you really stop and think about it you can't be to safe. Best regards, Dave

Hey Dave.... where you from here in"Bama" ? Im in B'ham- Homewood actually. Later... John

I was down flying my little 40 size Hots last October alone. Had flown a couple of times. I was starting the Thunder Tiger 46 with a 11/6 wooden prop. I don't know if I just let go of it, or if I bumped the throttle on the radio. Anyway it flew into me wide open. And as you can see below, it got my middle finger on my right hand, 8 stitches. Had on shorts and got my right knee. Took out about a 50 cent piece of hide about 1/4 inch deep. Prop broke thank God. I think if I had had a APC prop, probably would have lost the end of my finger. Had a heck of a time getting to the ER because I was bleeding so bad. Lucky for me, the field is only about a half mile from the hospital. I know it was stupid. That's what happens, when you get careless. Could have been allot worse. So be careful out there.

JIM

Thanks for posting the photos. I fly alone a lot in the early mornings. This is a great time for me to practice. These photos force me to rethink my habits. I'm carefull but again I am reminded that If I got hurt at the flying field while I'm alone I might be in big trouble. I had a spinner fly apart while I was adjusting the needle valve last summer. I did not have the proper alum spinner I needed so I went with a plastic one to test a new bird. I normaly never use plastic spinners but the engine was "only" a 91 2-stroke. Lots of sharp edges barely missed my face. Next time could be a different story. We can gain from your personal experience. I hope you have a speedy and complete recovery.

Say you're having a good day at the flying field by yourself, then all of a sudden you lose signal to your craft or for what ever reason your plane goes down in the trees, 100 yards + away. *You look around but no one is there to watch your stuff as you venture off to fetch your plane*.

I have always ran these type of scenarios in my head, the fact that my stuff could get stolen while I'm out searching for my plane aside my accident with the prop, I will never ever fly alone again.

Blackie

John, i'm from Foley although I lived in Fairhope for years. Foley is about 10 miles from Gulf Shores.....Dave

THANK GOODNESS THE PLANE DIDNT START JUMPING UP.. IN OUR OLD CLUB WE USED TO THAT THE NEWBIES TO THE FIELD AND GRABBED A COUPLE OF HOTDOG AND DEMOED WHAT A HOT PROP WILL DO TO A HOT DOG WHEN STUCK INTO A RUNNING MOTOR WHEN JUST AT A IDEL. THAT MAKE ALL THE NEWBIES THINK ABOUT WHAT THEY ARE DOING.
GET WELL QUICK