Engine starting safety
 

For all of you who have been injured and to those of you who WILL suffer...............tell this beginner the safe position to be in when starting your engine, any size. :eek:
I was taught to position myself in front of the plane and use hold-downs on the stab. Start at idle and reach over the prop to disconnect the glo starter. OK???

Thanks guys, Tom

RE: Engine starting safety
 

Not in my book. Pick up radio, walk around behind prop, remove glo starter.

RE: Engine starting safety
 

NEVER reach over your prop to grab your glow starter. thats just asking for it

RE: Engine starting safety
 

Then tell me what you do. Please. How do you disconnect the glo starter?

RE: Engine starting safety
 

you walk around behind your plane and take it off....

RE: Engine starting safety
 

I did once and pulled my hand right back through the prop. Thank goodness it was only running at idle.

It stopped the engine and put some pretty good gashes on my hand.

RE: Engine starting safety
 

do it how u feel comftorble(?)....... just remember were you are and what you are doing
i reach over it and haven't taken a prop in the three years that i have been flying
one of the guys at the club walked aroud the plane to pull the glow starter off and got bit by the prop!
think about what you are going to do before you do it.... thats all i gotta say

RE: Engine starting safety
 

That is very true. Can't let your guard down. I reached over the top many times before also. Had my head up my ass that day I guess.

RE: Engine starting safety
 

Safest place to be is... somewhere else :D

Since that's not an option, what I do is this: Left hand on fuse behind engine, right hand in front with chicken stick or starter (Tail being held by a holder - either mechanical or [preferably] carbon-based life form)

Once engine is running, use left hand (Which is already behind the prop) to remove glow clip.

And ALWAYS remember that there is a hungry prop there waiting to eat ANYTHING (Fingers, transmitter antenna, shirt tail etc)

Next - and probably every bit as important... Once the engine is running, get BEHIND the prop arc before running the engine up! If anything goes wrong, large nasty sharp things can fly out or forward, rarely will they go toward the rear.

There was a case about a year ago right here at RCU where a guy was standing in front of his giant scale gasser. When he opened the throttle, the firewall broke loose. That man posted here to tell us that he will not be flying anymore, because he has no fingers left and both of his hands were mutilated for life.

So I will say it again...

GET BEHIND THE ENGINE!!!

And get all spectators and close pilots back there too!

RE: Engine starting safety
 

Hi,

Never use your fingers to start the engine. I used to use my fingers until I brought APC props. Even with sanded trailing edges they will still bite hard. I have always used a chicken stick since without any problems.

Stefan

RE: Engine starting safety
 

I received a nasty gash to my forearm while reaching across the prop to adjust the carb (15 stitches) on an Extra 300 w/.91 4-stroke. I got lucky and didn't have any nerve damage. Minnflyer gave good advice about moving to the rear once you've started the plane--it's just a good practice to get in the habit of.

Always try to maintain a healthy level of fear and you won't get bit. Never underestimate the PERMANENT damage you can incur from a spinning prop.

RE: Engine starting safety
 

We try to have someone hold the plane while it is being started even if it is a little 40 size plane. You can never be too safe.

RE: Engine starting safety
 

Safest way to start a plane is with a buddy ... that is best. Buddy restrains the plane whilse you fire the engine up (chicken stick or starter) and then buddy removes glow. Buddy will hold on to plane till you have taken over properly. Very safe but not always practical.

What I do is bad new ... I will start the plane on my own (paint brush as a chicken stick) and then reach over to remove glow while keeping revs up a little. So far after all this while I have not injured myself. I always watch the prop tip carefully. Hehehee ... please do not do what I do!!!

RE: Engine starting safety
 

I always leave the glow starter on until I am behind the plane. I move up to behind the wing then reach over the wing for the starter. Every once in a while I find myself reaching for the glow starter while still in front, but stop and go back around. I have had 19 stitches in my right hand from a prop. I don't need that to happen twice to convince me to get behind it. It's ironic, when working on a table saw I never reach across a spinning blade, so why should it be any different with a spinning prop?

RE: Engine starting safety
 

Mike in DC describes the same technique that I use.

Just started remembering to carry the Tx to behind the plane, as it's potentially just as dangerous reaching forward to pick up the Tx if you left it in front while starting!

RE: Engine starting safety
 

Thanks to all you guys for your input and experiences.
Minnflyer.......you told us where your hands are when starting but where is you body? Where are you kneeling to the side of the plane, back of it or in the front ahead of the prop??? I've seen them all and not sure which is safest. Again thanks for your input.....Tom

RE: Engine starting safety
 

Another thing to be aware of when starting a plane is the prop can come off and fly into you. I saw one stuck into a guy's forehead. It wasn't a serious injury, but a half inch lower it would have hit his eye. So, crank down those prop nuts.

Once the plane is started, most guys like to rev the engine to make sure it's running right. When you do that, make sure you're behind the prop, and nobody else is close to the model in the plane of the prop.

RE: Engine starting safety
 

I would be standing (or kneeling) at about 45 degrees to the plane's right.

RE: Engine starting safety
 

Well, I've never(maybe not yet, or hope to never suffer) from an engine
mishap... But kaka happens, Just do all that you can to prevent it.. Don't
get complaisant... As easy as it can be... And time does not help...

At our club we have tables that hold the wing or tail feathers.. I prefere
this method better than someone else holding the plane( I know its good
but it's just me..Always thinking they will cough or jerk just as I'm
adjusting the needle valve.. Anyway..

I set the plane up against the stop, insure any loose clothing is off or out
of the way, including anything or body in front of the engine.. Connect the
glow starter while holding the prop, If using panel powered insure wires are
in back of engine as best as can be.. grab the fusealage just aft of the
engine set my starter frimly and evenly on the prop shaft/spinner then start..
once started, I (almost always, but I'm human) get behind not on the side,
but behind the engine and remove the glow starter and make any
adjustments if need be..
"note" engine starting problems.. People talking to you, "WILL" eliminate any
safety precautions you may have... Fix or talk.. Then start your engine:)

RE: Engine starting safety
 

i ALWAYS use a remote glo connector and i ALWAYS use a starter,i don't go anywhere near the prop whilst starting or running,you wouldn't put your fingers near a food processor when it was running would you?