Employee at pilot training school 'seriously injured' after being struck by propeller: TSB

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tert_butoxide@reddit

I'll admit to not knowing much about this and ask for an explanation-- is rotating the prop by hand a normal way to help when the engine isn't starting? If so, how the hell do you usually do that safely?

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Cool-Acanthaceae8968@reddit

Might not have been trying to hand prop it. Might have been rotating the prop (which usually stops in a 10-4 position when looking back on a four cylinder aircraft) to install a towbar to move it back into the tiedown spot.

Always check to ensure the mags are off, and always treat a propeller as live.

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Thetomgamerboi@reddit

Sounds like it.

"The student followed the startup checklist, but when attempting to start the engine, it would start, sputter and then quit" "A Harv's Air employee noticed that the student was having difficulty and walked over to offer assistance"

Student gets interrupted, leaves the mags on by accident, and the employee tries to get the prop in a position to drag it to a hangar?

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KehreAzerith@reddit

There's a specific way of doing it but yeah if you mess up you could lose a limb or even die.

It's usually recommended to avoid using such methods on modern prop planes unless you absolutely have to.

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Ok_Twist_1687@reddit

Also, tie the tail down to keep the plane from moving forward.

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throwaway_4it4@reddit

Jesus Lord let's make this more terrifying somehow

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Ok_Twist_1687@reddit

Saw a pilot hand prop a plane with the throttle open, the engine fired, plane ran over him ( miraculously unharmed) and crashed into a hangar door. Pilot had been flying +30 years w/no accidents but quit flying that day forever. He’d borrowed the plane for the weekend. But you do you.

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throwaway_4it4@reddit

That is absolutely bonkers. The idea of hand propping a plane already skeeves me; the thought that it could just start rolling toward you afterward? Nooooope

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Ok_Twist_1687@reddit

Typically a two person job. One in the cockpit to insure the throttle is closed and the brakes are applied, the second to throw the propeller, but we also tied the tail down as an extra precaution. As with anything Aviation, safety first.

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AnotherBasicHoodrat@reddit

Not to mention an aircraft in the governments eyes with a dead battery is considered unairworthy

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49orth@reddit

A couple online resources:

https://flight-study.com/engine-starting-and-hand-propping/

https://www.nicrocraft.com/a-closer-look-at-hand-propping

https://www.avweb.com/flight-safety/technique/hand-propping-demystified/

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KemHeka@reddit

Depends on the plane. If it has no electrical systems, hand prop would be standard procedure. If it does have an electrical system it’s more of a back up procedure if the PIC deems the flight safe to continue despite the starting issues.

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nextgeneric@reddit

Hand propping is never worth it. Never.

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Nazacrow@reddit

Seriously injured is very lucky in this case. Prop strike survivors are rare

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modskayorfucku@reddit

Haha sounds preventable, unless you’re stupid

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triangulumnova@reddit

unless you’re stupid

Kinda like people who post without reading the article?

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Cool-Acanthaceae8968@reddit

Only stupid people put themselves in a prop arc.

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Tactical_Fleshlite@reddit

You can read the article, unless you’re stupid.

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Cool-Acanthaceae8968@reddit

Preventable.

Always treat a prop as live.

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MaterialInevitable83@reddit

But there are so multiple sentences!

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ProudlyWearingThe8@reddit

"Clear prop"... anyone...?

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Cool-Acanthaceae8968@reddit

Haha. I can tell you didn’t read the article.

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Beaver_Sauce@reddit

Don't walk into the big fan and you will live a little longer.

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terrydavid86@reddit

You should actually read the article

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Pirson@reddit

You should try to calm down.

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Cool-Acanthaceae8968@reddit

Do not walk into the big fan and you will live longer.

NEVER put yourself in a prop arc.

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freqspace@reddit

Dis-assed-her

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Murpet@reddit

I hated prop hand swings. In my CFI days we used to have this big big very slow old engineer.. occasionally on a flat battery if a student left the Master on he would hobble over and offer to hand swing it and wouldn’t take no for an answer.

I always left the mags off and let him have a swing or two before he relented and let it into the hangar to get a charge.

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jeb_hoge@reddit

I wonder how much of the hand was left?

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halfmylifeisgone@reddit

"The TSB does not specify the nature of the injuries for privacy reasons."

Oh man, his dick got chopped off right?

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