We had our club meeting; it was going good. I had my spad out and ready to fly. The only problem was the wind; one of the members said not to be scared and learn to fly in it. Its blown around 10-20mph [X(]. Right when I was gonna start my engine; one of the members was starting his; he got it started then I heard it stop like it hit something. It was his finger that stopped the engine[:@]. One of our former members that came by; ran and grabbed his first aid kit out of is motorcycle. After seeing the blood and having not eaten anything all day; I got a lil dizzy. I had to go seat down and try to close my eyes and recover. The guy that was hurt; acted like it was nothin. After I could stand alright I went and started my plane. Got up and flew great; try to do some simple aerobatics; but with a trainer is a lil hard. Came in; I had a quartering headwind, came in a lil fast and bent the gear a bit. A lil time with a vice and it'll be ok. Then we all started to talk and joke; then all of a sudden; we here a big BOOM. We looke toward the highway and a mustang and a motorcycle had collided[X(]. We all run toward'em; the motorcyclist was lying on the road; like he was asleep. One of our members ran and checked to see if he was still breathing and he was; thankfully. There were 3 people in the mustang; all looked pretty good; I think just shook up and they were put in a ambulance. The motorcyclist had to be lefted out by a chopper;we were told by police to help clear the road;so the chopper can land; but one of the membersr told em that they use to land in our field. About 30mins later a chopper was comin in and landed right on our runway[X(]. I almost took the camera to the meeting[:@]. After they left and everything was cleaned up; people were driving on it; like nothing had happend. When I got back I told my story and was told that; when we were hearing something the motorcycist snorring, it was accually blood in his lungs. I do wish we won't have to do that again. I didn't really have a club meeting just when we were gonna begin; we heard it.

Terrible. Hope he is okay.

He is being taken to Vanderbelt; which is the best hostital in TN and probably in the nation. They will take good care of him

What about the first guy's finger?

He went in the chopper too.

This was in Valdosta Ga and is typical

Model engines can do a lot of damage. Cutting off the rest of the little finger and stitching up the others is not the end of the story. Arthritis, nerve damage problems go on for years

MOTHER OF GOD.

do you know what size motor did that damage glow or gas?

It was a 3.2 c.i. gasser with a 22" prop that apparently came loose from the restraint at start up.

It is in post 83 of this thread http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_47..._4/key_/tm.htm

There are many other pictures of fingers/hands and reports of problems in that long thread

!!!!!!!Pics like that need a disclaimer!!!!!! (or not to be shared) There was no picture logo on the thread, and I sure wasn't expecting that......

W8ye, was that a public picture somewhere? I noticed the names on the information tags, and that probably falls under HIPAA protection. I deal with it on a daily basis, and know that there are some really stiff penalties for disclosing PHI. I would hate to see any of us get into any trouble.

That picture was posted in the forum by the owner of the hand. He has the right to post his own pictures.
post 83 of this thread: http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_47..._4/key_/tm.htm

That is a picture linked from another thread in RCU in the crash forum. It is an old picture that has been there a couple yrs.

There is a link to the thread in one of the earlier posts

I had an accident like that twice. One in the 60's just like in the second picture and then again last summer. My fingers are all heeled on the surface but the nerve damage and arthritis will bother me for years.

I started a Saito 56 and it was at low idle. I drug my fingers that I has holding the plane down with through the prop. They didn't stop the engine. It cut 1/8" off my right middle finger and broke my ring finger behind the nail and it looked like it was cut off and hanging by the skin at first.

People should be aware how dangerous even a small engine can be. The original poster in that thread link cut the back of his left hand with a small electric model. He had tendon problems that resulted in the need for a second operation on his hand.

I wasn't aware that it was posted originally by the actual person in the picture, and yes he can post his own. I was just watching out for you guys.

That's always appreciated

Look at this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qxhi4Q8EDTU from another thread

I saw that, its pretty cool!

I think he should be ok. It just got the top of his finger All the club members tell me since I'm a noobie;that my time is comin.

Those that have and those that will

but is was 40 years between the two times it happened to me

its funny..... an accident like that could have happened to me this past weekend...... i was talking to a buddy standing in front of my plane ,i flipped the prop as if i was gonna start it (24x8) and it turned on at idle.... it rolled toward me and struck my shirt, and i hit the switch....and thankfully no one got hurt i must have forgotten to turn the ign off

That's how it often happens when talking to someone or in a big hurry

CARNAGE!!!!!!

Respect the prop!!!!

I know I will from now on!!!!

Okay wrong thing reading this thread while eating.

I once almost got hit by a prop while starting the engine - wasn't paying attention too what I was doing.

But after this thread I'm taking in...

"Respect the prop...Respect the prop...Respect the prop...always remember, Respect the prop"

Geez...I am not queezie over the sight or smell of blood....a warning before that picture showed up would have been nice....you know like foreplay with the wife when you say BRACE YOURSELF.....
Gents let me warn you...I had 33 years of full scale aviation maintenance time, alot of it around props. Both military and with a well known airline....several years flying RC before I got in a hurry to fly between rain showers...and got, got, 21 stitches 2 broken figers.
Those that will, and those that will again...be damn careful

I think the exact words that came out of my mouth, sitting here alone at the computer were "Oh good god... mother...." In my mind the "mother" was followed by a few choice words.

Yea... you people better remember that picture above. At least he still had all his fingers. I was at my Club when this guy was breaking in his engine about 5 years back...and he was showing another person, who was thinking about becoming a member how to adjust the low end screw while the engine was running with a small screw driver.

It was a Nylon Prop... it didn't even slow down when he stuck his hand in the prop. Took me and 3 other people 20 minutes to find his finger. The Vice Pres found the finger and drove to the emergency room where he was with the finger on ice.

It's been 5 years since I've seen him or his young friend. I guess he came back for his plane... but what I do know is they both quit the hobby.

Here is my finger after I got bit when I hand started a Evolution .61 NX engine in cold weather. I had a wood prop on it and when it kicked back on me it took the skin off. Of course real men don't use "Chicken Sticks." But this man does now.