STAY AWAY FROM THE PROPELLERS!

I had a decent day at the field with someone helping me. Decided to roll home and practice taxiing in the driveway. Well wouldnt you know the engine started backwards. I read to just advance the throttle and it would die. For some unknown reason I had my hand close enough so when I advenced the throttle it rolled back a lil and chopped the hell outta my fingers. Got 2 slices to stop bleeding but the third may need stitches. In my frustration I wrapped paper towels and duct tape around my fingers and tried to continue doing what i was doing. The damn thing kept starting backwards. And I know I was spinning it the right way. Anyway I finally got it to start the right way but by that time the "bandages" were soaked with blood. Ill chalk it up to a newb learning experience from hell. But it could have been worse. Feel free to share your experiences to make me feel better... [&o]

Erik

There are very few RC pilots that do not have a cut finger story as the result of a prop hit. The issue that I have with your accident was that you did not quit trying to make your engine run without first taking care of your fingers. The engines that we use contain all sorts of crud that cause infection and if you have cuts that need stitches and or attention to clean up any cut's, you need to get them taken care off as soon as possible. This is a wonderful hobby, however your safety and well being must be first and the airplane second. I do hope that you have a complete recovery and Good Luck, Dave

Thanks. And the sad part is Im a nurse. I did initially wash the cuts out with soap. Ive delt with many of my own deep cuts without getting stitches but I dont know about this one. If I had stitches here Id do it myself.

They say if a engine starts backwards start it backwards, seem they always run the wrong way when you don''t expect it. And some time being on the right side of the plane is the wrong side OUCH!!!!! The sudden burst of RPM before the reverse is what gets you[:@]

Yep, we''ve all done it many of us more than once,,,on my .049 engines I can pinch the spinner with my thumb and finger to stop the engine...once bench testing a .40FP and reaching (for what I dont remember) when the prop tip went through my finger/ nail long ways...it looked like something that would never heal properly, but the human body is pretty amazing and it looks like it never happened now, but that years ago....Rog

You really are lucky it wasnt worse. I gotta tell you though.....I saw my buddy taxi his plane(throttle linkage came loose) between his legs,but the prop put a small gash in his leg. Werent sure if it should have stitches either,but they did stitch it. BUT,the problem he had wasnt the cut or even the stitches. It was the terrible infection he got even though he put stuff on it etc. You will likely need antibiotics prescribed to you. There must be something about airplane fuel and dirty props that really makes it hard to keep infection under control. Ask your doctor for antibiotics.

I almost lost three fingers in my early R/C.
I had one of those stupid pull start engine, and it yank my hand back becuase it say you shouldn''t pull it too
hard becuase the string might break. Kind of like it fired backwards.

I thought i saw bones...white meat .lol
Of course I grab the nearest towl that was set under the muffuler to prevent oil marks on my patio . It was soak with nitro.[:@]

It bleed for a good while, but the pain was mostly my bones getting wack really really hard.
I wouldn''t use my hand for a couple of weeks....and it was my wipping hand.lmao

Have been very, very carful with props from that moment thou.

Did it once when i was a teenager - I''m 53 now and still have the scar.

But once was enough to teach me to be careful around a prop.

Knock on wood!

well today was the first day with a plane ever. I decided I didnt need a chicken stick, so I used my fingers. Walked away with 2 bloddy fingers. I was wrong.

I always remember my dad starting his "COX" planes with his fingeres so i fugured it was ok. but I was wrong. ESPECIALLY on a cold , new engine with tons of pinch. I actually got it stuck a TDC to the point I had to heat the engine and use a bunch of after run oil. I was spinning the prop on the rod.. Leasson learned!. I have been using a rubber handled scredriver.

after my ST .40 cut two of my fingers I went and bought a elec. starter, best thing I have ever done.

Haha well Im glad Im not alone. I broke down and went to the ER. Luckily I work in that hospital so they fast tracked me out of there. 6 stitches later Im ready to roll out again tomorrow! Yeah and the electric starter is lookin real nice right now.

All this can,t be as bad as me falling on top of chainsaw nothing that 6 hours surgery and a rebuild hand its as good as gold no feeling in places but what the heck you are not meant to fallover with it going

Ouch !!
Some guy fell off a tree while trimming a tree close to where i live. The chain saw fell on his leg. No one was around. He bleeded to death.

The worst accident i got into was when i got burned. 1st and 2nd degree on my face and chess.
They had to dip me into a tank and then scrubbbbbbb stupid fast. (everyday for almost a month)
It took five people. One to hold down each of my lims and one to scrub. I would scream at the top of my lungs even after shots of morphine.
Those guy did a very good job thou...becuase the butcher was thinking about cutting skins off of my other body parts
and pasting it on the part that wasn''t healing. I don''t think he was going to use soap and a squeegie.
There''s major signs on my face that looked like I''ve ever been burt. A big scar runs across my chess, but the skin is smooth.
I never went under the knife.

The guy sharing my room had it pretty bad . Someone turn on the sand blaster in a shop and sand blasted he pants off.
He told me they had to use tweezers to pluck all the sand from his legs as he watch.
He was missing skin and had to get skin graph.

I had almost the same thing happen to me about 5 years ago.

I went to flip the prop to start it and the engine fired backwards (didn't start).

It didn't cut my fingers but put a huge gash down the palm of my hand. (That was the last time I attempted to start an engine without a chicken stick or electric starter)


Link Minnflyer, I think that scar will be with me for life!

I didn''t get stitches, but went to the ER to have it glued back together.


I didn''t continue to mess with the engine at the time. I am a wimp went it comes to blood, and there was a lot!

A few of lessons learned the hard way. 1. Always have a good hold on the plane, even if the engine starts backwards, you still have control; 2. Props can be extremely sharp - its always a good idea to dull the trailing edge(espeically MAS); 3. Always use a chicken stick (or something similar) or electric starter - my chicken stick is made from an old broom handle and packing tape, I ''ve had it for 20 years now and its really showing it age, better that than my fingers; 4. Always have a good 1st Aid kit nearby in case of an accident - bandages, gauze, hydrogen peroxide, etc; 5. Never fly by yourself - accidents do happen and driving yourself to the hospital with blood shooting out can be distracting. Just basic safety tips

I have cut myself twice and both times it was from my finger sliding off the end of a sharp prop while trying to start the engine. I do have an electric starter to. Stupid stupid stupid[:@]

both were APC props

Many years ago, a buddy and I were trying to start his rc plane. Remember the Duraplane? We had an electric starter too. When the engine finally started I was a bit too excited that it actually fired up and didn't quite clear the prop when removing the glow starter. Well the plastic prop was a bit rough at the edges from bad landings (landings?) and really cut my index finger deep. Luckily his mom was a nurse and fixed me up for another go. That's why I'm going with a club instructor with my first plane. BTW does a dab of paint on prop edges help define the no touch zone? Does it mess up the balance too much?

Couple weeks ago, I started my engine and went to reach for my tac, and well, the rest is history. I had about 14-15 cuts starting from the nail of my thumb and going all the way to my palm. 8-9 were pretty deep.

I'm a little more cautious and even paranoid now.

Yes, it is a good idea to paint the tips of your props to define the outer edge of the disc. Some of the larger MAS are already painted white. Balance shouldn't be an issue if you do it equally on both ends. You can always re-check the balance (as well you should).

A few months ago I sliced my fingers in my prop and swore it would never, ever, happen again...
Today i was helping a friend tune his engine and... well, I am typing with one hand now [:@]
It will never, ever, happen again!