I will never take tuning an engine as routine ever again

[Mike Griffin]

This is what an APC prop on a OS 46LA can do for your hand if the two meet.  It caused an open fracture and I almost lost my left thumb forever.  I have to wear the cast for 3 weeks.  The worst part is, I still cant figure out what happened or how I did it.  It happened fast and I had never done if before.  APC props are invisible when turning several thousand RPM and the ends of mine are getting painted as soon as I can hold them with my hand again.  I was lucky and will never take tuning the engine as routine ever again.  Oh by the way, It hurts like ****

Mike

[Clint Ormosen]

OUCH Mike! As careful as you try to be, sometimes stuff happens. I've been lucky it hasn't happened to me yet. But someone once told me it's not if it happens, but when it happens!
Best wishes for a speedy recovery.

[Bob Reeves]

OUCH... Sure sorry to see this post..

[Ward Van Duzer]

Were you in front of the engine and reaching over it to adjust the needle? I see this all the time at the field. In fact, I just corrected a newbe this last week-end.

Ward

[Mike Griffin]

Thanks for the replies guys.  No Ward I actually walked around behind the prop and adjusted the needle valve and it was just as I reached for the glow starter with my right hand that the prop got the left thumb.  I guess I just dropped that hand without thinking and it got me.  The doc at the emergency room asked me if a chain saw did it.

Mike

[Mike Griffin]

Thanks for all the nice thoughts and replies guys.  I had someone to launch me and was holding the plane.  After I started the engine, I walked around to the back of the prop and adjusted the needle valve.  As I reached to release the glow starter with my right hand, the prop got me.  I guess I just got careless and lowered my left hand without thinking.  The plane I was going to fly was my new Forerunner which is a profile and the engine is mounted sideways on the outboard side.  When I  looked down to see my thumb, the flesh was chewed and I could see the bone.  It also broke the bone and that is why I am in this cast for 3 weeks.  To those of you who have gone through this, you know how fast it can happen and leave you wondering how it happened.  I am 60 years old now and this is the first time it ever happened to me.  I would guess my reflexes are not as good as they used to be.

Be careful guys, I never realized how disabled you were without a thumb and how many daily functions you take for granted.

Mike

[Alan Hahn]

Mike,
As they say, the opposable thumb is what separates us from the Apes! So now you are straddling the chasm with one working thumb!

I think mind fade after starting the engine is the most dangerous thing. Most of us are pretty aware of the prop and our fingers when hand starting, so I don't think starting the engine is the most dangerous operation at all, at least as compared to tuning. I am not sure what exactly to do, because we all will experience brain fade at some time. I know guys who refuse to tweak the motor once running, basically making their needle corrections between flights.

[Willis Swindell]

Mike
I did this Thursday tacking a engine. No stitches just super glued back together. Doc said it was going to leave a bad scar.
Willis

[Elwyn Aud]

That looks awful. I'm glad you weren't flying by yourself at the time. Your incident does illustrate the main danger in flying alone although I have done so often.

[phil c]

Looks really rough Mike.  Hope you never do it again.

My brother did a lot of safety work before he retired.  Whenever I'd get nicked by a prop he'd say, there are no accidents.  Every time somebody gets hurt somebody didn't follow the safe procedures.  If you can figure out what you did wrong you can make sure it never happens again.

[Mike Griffin]

  I am aware of the fact that I have to be much more careful now at age 60 than I was at 15 when I first started flying.  I went to an electric starter not to long ago and am not ashamed to admit it.  I was one who hand started and back flipped and felt for a bump but no more.  My wife was so upset about this she didnt want me near a plane again but I think she realized now that that was just being scared for me.  I thought about what if I had been at the field alone using a stooge?  Our flying field is in the back country of Georgia.  Could I have driven out of there to the emergency room?  Yeah probably but with the pain and loss of concentration, I might of had a wreck and hurt someone else.

I do know this, for now on when I start my plane and adjust my needle valve and remove the glow driver, my thoughts will be no where else but there through each step.

This is such a great hobby and you guys (everyone in this sport) make up such a great fraternity to fly with and socialize with that it would kill me to do something to myself from carelessness that would prevent me from doing this anymore.

As long as the good Lord gives me the balance and coordination I will keep doing this and my goal is to live long enough to go to enough events that I will eventually get to shake each one of your hand.

Mike

[Bill Little]

Hi Mike,

May it heal quickly and completely! 

My oldest son, several years ago, almost gave up flying C/L.  He got the back side of a finger in the prop.  Took stitches, but it could have been a lot worse for him.

[ray copeland]

Reached for needle valve and not sure if a gust of wind or the engine slowed enough to back up , but not enough left of the skin over the knuckle to stitch or glue. Was just thinking about this thread right before!  Maybe we should delete this one!!!

[Mike Lauerman]

Reached for needle valve and not sure if a gust of wind or the engine slowed enough to back up ,

  Yazza! Dr. Kelch was holding my Biplane, newly broken-in O.S. .40 Four Stroker was turning its 11X5 Master Airscrew at a fast pace, when I reached over it from the FRONT (!) to adjust the needle! (Talk about Stupid!) Right wrist squirted out a red stream, didn't slow that 4-stroker a bit! Dr. Kelch is yelling now, "Shut it off! We're going to Emergency!"
I wrapped a blue shop towel around the wrist, said, "Naaaw, been too long! This bird's FLYIN'!!!"
Ran to the handle, and got the most exhillerating feeling...Bipe in the air, four-stroker sounding like a Pratt, wrist leaking like a sieve, and I'm flyin' again! And a Bipe, yet!
Three stitches, but that was a half hour later...Dr. Kelch drove, in his BMW 530!

[gary tultz]

APC Props will take a beautiful Black dye job using hot tap water in a gallon milk jug and RIT dye. Left overnight, they come out as nice as a Master Airscrew and are much more visible when spinning. Painted tips will really contrast then.   

[FLOYD CARTER]

Here am I: 74 years old and flying models since age 9.  Never had a prop nick.  My secret:  Do everything slowly and always get behind the model while adjusting the needle or fussing with a tach.

Floyd in OR (10-fingered Floyd)

[linheart smith]

Here am I: 74 years old and flying models since age 9.  Never had a prop nick.  My secret:  Do everything slowly and always get behind the model while adjusting the needle or fussing with a tach.

Floyd in OR (10-fingered Floyd)

You are correct Sir.

Linheart

[Andrew Borgogna]

Mike
Don't know if you are aware of this but if you have any out of pocket medical deductables due, the AMA insurance will cover them.  I learned this when I shoved a #11 xacto blade through a nerve in my hand and need surgery.  Everything my medical insurance didn't cover the AMA insurance did and it was in the hundreds of dollars.

Really sorry to hear your story the APC and Master Airscrew props both go invisable at speed.  Tip paint goes a long way to making them visable.  Get well soon man.
Andy

[Leo Mehl]

This is the basic reason I won't use any kind of plastic or carbon fibre prop on my planes. When you get a certain age things start to happen that are a little detramental to your judgment. Anyway even painted they are dangerous. Hope you heal fast. Have good flying season as soon as you heal.

[OnlyMeDee (Dee Tison)]

I dont know how it happened either!  And I was the one holding the plane to launch him!

[RandySmith]

This is the basic reason I won't use any kind of plastic or carbon fibre prop on my planes. When you get a certain age things start to happen that are a little detramental to your judgment. Anyway even painted they are dangerous. Hope you heal fast. Have good flying season as soon as you heal.

Doesn't help Leo , you can still get a finger taken off, cut very badly, or tendon muscle damage or broke bones with a wood prop, only safe one I know is to buy  "nerf props"

Regards
Randy

[john e. holliday]

I can vouch for that.  Ask me to show the scar from a wood 10-4 on an LA 25.  DOC Holliday