How Not to hand prop an airplane

Kalahnikid · Post by **Kalahnikid** » Tue Apr 08, 2008 22:31

I copied and pasted this verbatim from another forum I am a member of. Story comes from an A&P in Florida......
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It started out at the Self service Avgas pump.
A guy fueled his Cherokee, but knew he had a dead battery. Pushed the plane back, hopped in, primed the engine, left the throttle half open, mags on, and got back out.
Gave the prop a swift swing, and the engine fired right up. Right up to around 1800rpm I guess.
The plane took off, straight for the fuel farm.

Fortunately, the prop hit this concrete filled steel post, designed for this very situation: to keep shit from running into the fuel tanks.

Here's what happened next: Prop hit the post, and the crankshaft sheared right of the engine, sending the prop, hub and spinner flying like you only see in cartoons, landing on the roof of a hangar, about 150 yards away.

Here it is:

Aftermath:

And no, this did not buff right out. Plane was sold for $400 on the spot, and parted out and sold on eBay.

With today's medical expertise and knowledge, we can fix a lot of things. Stupid is not one of them. Guy had no insurance, and was under scrutiny of the FAA for running another plane out of fuel, and landing it on highway 41 in Ft Myers I believe. He should just quit flying all together..

Post by **joea** » Tue Apr 08, 2008 23:25

Idiot. Sounds like he finally made the right decision and needs to go find another hobby, far, far away from airplanes.

He is just very lucky that the prop did not head straight for the fuel tank, starting a fired in the process.

WWhunter · Post by **WWhunter** » Wed Apr 09, 2008 09:00

Knowing some of the sales on ebay......the engine was probably listed as "previously running but might need an overhaul."

Mikek · Post by **Mikek** » Wed Apr 09, 2008 10:41

WWhunter wrote:Knowing some of the sales on ebay......the engine was probably listed as "previously running but might need an overhaul."

FOR SALE or TRADE: Egine with complete logbooks showing 2200 tt 501.02 since fresh top overhaul, last compression check 08-07-07 all above 70/80.

Who ever bought the airframe got a deal if the last owner just had tanks topped with 100 oct.

Mike K

Nathan K. Hammond · Post by **Nathan K. Hammond** » Thu Apr 10, 2008 01:29

That'll buff right out.

nkh

Post by **joea** » Thu Apr 10, 2008 02:17

Nathan K. Hammond wrote:That'll buff right out.

nkh

With a grinder maybe!

lundq · Post by **lundq** » Thu Apr 10, 2008 08:40

He probably won't try that stunt again. What's the old saying??? "A change in behavior has occured therefore learning has taken place"

shorty · Post by **shorty** » Mon Oct 27, 2008 21:08

How'd he keep from gettin' chopped ta bits himself? (just goes ta show, that God looks out for idiots an' fools) I can't/Won't prop a Cherokee. Th' prop's not clocked properly for it, and it's too close to th' ground.

Kalahnikid · Post by **Kalahnikid** » Thu Oct 30, 2008 23:48

shorty wrote:How'd he keep from gettin' chopped ta bits himself? (just goes ta show, that God looks out for idiots an' fools) I can't/Won't prop a Cherokee. Th' prop's not clocked properly for it, and it's too close to th' ground.

I have no idea, I ASSume he was standing to the left of the prop and just propping with his left hand, I dont know.

Handpropping a nosewheel airplane, especially of that horsepower is sure not on my to do list.

Dennis · Post by **Dennis** » Fri Oct 31, 2008 10:45

Just for fun, I hand proped my cherokee 235. Its got an 0-540 engine. I used a pair of leather gloves to save the finger tips and had my wife inside the plane on the brakes. I can tell you that it is possible but not a lot of fun if it does not start on the first prop.

Dennis

Post by **joea** » Fri Oct 31, 2008 12:41

Dennis,

The big issue with Lyc engines is do not try to use the starter if the battery is low. Once the starter tries to engage its real difficult to get the gear away from the flywheel and almost impossible to prop while turning both engine and starter motor over.

I have hand propped a Pratt & Whitney R-985 back in the old days and have seen larger radial engines propped. Just has to be done correctly.

For me today "correctly" is to use an electric starter and be done with it!

Joe A

15A · Post by **15A** » Fri Oct 31, 2008 12:59

Here's one!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RDIiMJn9 ... re=related

Dennis · Post by **Dennis** » Fri Oct 31, 2008 13:42

Right you are, Joe. Years ago, I tried it with a low battery and an engaged bendix. It may be possible but I could not do it. I now have one of the new light weight starters which retracts when the power is off the starter. So a low battery is no issue with hand propping the engine. I was still a chore but doable in an emergency.

Dennis