Important Event Report!!!

[Keith Black]

Robert, I can't speak to the three blade issue, but the safety point you make is VERY important.

When I got back in this hobby about four years ago I threw a prop on my trainer and it almost hit me in the face. After that I became very diligent about staying behind the prop. Three years later I had become lackadaisical and was cranking my engine at a 2004 NATS warm-up when the engine kicked and the prop came spinning at full speed right at my face. Again I was lucky as the top blade hit my hat and then bounced off of my sunglasses. This stopped the bottom blade from continuing its revolution and hitting me in the chin or throat. The impact on my glasses was so hard that I had to check to see if I was bleeding. Needless to say this scared the bejeepers out of me! Since that time I do my best to stay out of the plane of the prop, but I sometimes find myself creeping back up there.

What's scary is that I regularly see guys cranking and running up these big engines with their face directly in the plane of the prop. It scares me when I see this, but people normally don't take it seriously when this is pointed out, especially guys that have been doing this for a long time with no incidents.

I'm glad this topic has come up and very glad no one was hurt in this most recent incident. 

Keith Black

----- Original Message ----- 
  From: RUDDERCABL at aol.com 
  To: discussion at nsrca.org 
  Sent: Wednesday, September 07, 2005 9:56 PM
  Subject: Re: Important Event Report!!!


  I would like to urge that there not be an automatic condemnation of any prop or prop engine combination. 

  One of the very first things we learn in this hobby is that "PROPS CAN FAIL". There have been several reports lately of 3 blades failing ( including mine ), but there have also been some 2 blade failures that haven't been reported. Not saying that there is a cover up or anything, but that failures have been by individuals that realize this can happen and take a rational approach to the issue rather than a knee-jerk reaction. 

  When mine failed, one of the first questions I got was " Well I quess you won't be using three blades anymore?" My answer, " Yes I will. If it works with the plane/ engine combination, there will be a three blade on there".

  To me, the most important thing about these reports is that they should be reminders that these things can and do happen. Everyone of us has at one time or another subjected ourselves to the danger zone of the prop arch. Some of us repeatedly violate this rule of physics. Take these reports as reminders that we need to be vigilant about the care of our props and our own safety around them.

  Robert Gainey
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