Props is Props when it comes to safety. It is important that beginners be taught safe handling procedures from Day 1. I continually emphasize this to my students, as well as experienced club members. It is important to establish a routine, and stick to it. The most important part of the routine for me is - have the plane restrained, and once the engine is running (or capable of running for electrics) everything is done from BEHIND the plane. I had a student this weekend start to reach over the prop to remove the glow starter, and we spent several minutes discussing why that's unacceptable.

Brad

a lot of times when Folk's post a link to their own thread i kinda roll my eyes , Not this time !

you guys should all go read this one if you haven't , there is more gore in that thread then in Rambo's first two movies !

i have seen a few horrible accidents with prop strikes , and i have had two or three minor (less then 5 stitches) accidents myself in 35 years of nitro .... but these folk's mostly had strikes that caused permanent injury with multiple surgeries , not for the faint of heart !

thanks for posting the link .

Hey Dan,
Ugly... yes.. figured if it helps save another from making a similar mistake... Thanks for taking the time to look at it.
HM

I too had a bad cut from a prop. See Post #83 PROP BITTEN. And I have had one more a year ago on knuckle of right index finger, got MRSA in it and spent several days in hospital on IV antibotics to get that under control, plus tendon was severed and the same Doc that fixed me up the first time was able to get me some use of the finger. I guess I'll never learn. He said for me to switch to cars. It's something to do with getting old and forgetfull. I still fly some but my son goes with me and does his best to keep me out of trouble.

About 6 years ago my brother stuck his hand in the prop of my .46. It cut his pink finger to the bone and broke it straight in half, it was just dangling. It also severely severed his ring finger. Nasty sight. He got 22 stitches and they put his whole hand in a cast...You got lucky my friend.

Unfortunately when it comes to spinning props the learning curve is pretty steep and respect for them is more often than not learned the hard way
as most of us have.
a bit of flat white on the prop tips will serve to make visible the arc of the prop, a good rugged cowhide work glove when your fingers are in proximity to the prop
along with a good measure of respect for how bad a prop can mame you will serve well to keep you out of harms way.
I got clubbed by a saito 220 running at about half throttle with a mejzlik prop it hit me in the middle finger ,cut the pad to the bone all the way to the first joint and smashed it into the ring and pinky fingers so hard that my hand swelled to double its size it took a week and a half for the swelling to go down and nearly a year for the firey hot burning numb sensation to go away.
Another rule I now follow religiously is NEVER take your eyes off your hands at anytime for any reason when they anywhere near the prop if you do theres a very strong chance you WILL get bit.

Wow...sorry to see that you hurt yourself....did this happens in CRAMS? If yes that will be the second one in as many weeks. The first was an electric btw.

This didn't happen at CRAMS, I was just running the engine, not flying.

I have since painted the prop tips yellow. Red would have been....wrong somehow.

I do consider myself very lucky, especially after seeing some of the "prop bitten" gore...thanks for that.

Life is always better with a twist of humour, so I got busy tonight to set things straight...