An old hand prop accident video

JDean3204

JDean3204

Well-Known Member
Wow, now this is not a good impression to make on a passengers first flight....



It is an older video, if you are not patient enough to listen to the whole thing, the footage starts a 0:45.
 
Holy craaaaaaap, that thing looked like it had just gotten into a ring and wanted to punch someone, that was crazy!
 
Reminder: Hand propping an aircraft requires two people familiar with the operation and qualified for it, one at the controls, and one swinging the prop...
 
While in Namibia this year, I watched a guy die from something just like this. He was just to casual about the prop. Although he lived for a few hours, he was dead at the scene. Mid twenties, been on the job two-three months; sad deal.
 
I've propped airplanes since I was 12 and it is as dangerous as you want to make it. I've propped everything from Cubs/Luscombes/Culvers (Cadets) to Stearman's and a Stinson Jr. S and a variety of Cessna nosedraggers. I've also done the hand-cranked inertia starters (a truly kick-ass way to ignite an airplane). I say this only to give a glimpse that I've done this before. So, saying that I will say this: The first time I propped an airplane for real I was alert, paranoid, and uncomfortable to a healthy degree. And this was with my Grandfather (30,000+ hours, etc) in the cockpit holding the brakes, controlling the switch, etc - in short, the person I trusted most in the world. After propping many airplanes I will say that the last airplane I propped I felt the following: alert, paranoid, and uncomfortable to a healthy degree. I guess my first rule is - if you've never propped an airplane, learn how from a person that's done it before you attempt it - I don't believe it should be a self-taught type thing. Second - never trust anybody in the airplane. If you call for switch off and brakes - assume the switch is hot prior to touching the prop and give yourself an out. Press the hub of the prop to see if the brakes are really set. Do not just trust that because you asked for it, the switch is cold and brakes set. Third - every prop is hot - never assume that it isn't (Also, when hand-towing a nosedragger pushing the prop-hub assuming that you will maybe somehow stumble, stroke down on the compression stroke and be chopped into a million pieces. Those are just some rules of thumb that may be helpful. And - never get "peer-pressured" into propping an airplane if you feel uncomfortable with it or haven't done it. If the guy insists, tell him you'll sit in the cockpit and he can prop it.
 
Last time this was posted someone ran it through the Benny hillizer. It really reaches its full potential with yackity sax playing in the background... Especially when the van starts driving around


Sent from 1865 by telegraph....
 
KSCessnaDriver said:
Ok. But for somebody with no one around, I don't think that single pilot propping is inherently bad, when the aircraft is properly secured, including being tied down.
Click to expand...
That I can buy. I'd still prefer to do it with two people. I'm very hesitant to even think about hand-propping the family sled, though.
 
Properly secured airplane propping done alone is fine - no harm in that. In fact, sometimes with the tailwheel tied down it is more secure to me than having someone stand on the brakes. And keep in mind - lots of airplanes don't have an electrical system.
 
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