Beware!
Just when you thought it'd been a great year's flying.....
Within the space of a couple of weeks, two of our members have been involved in accidents involving engines, propellers and hospital treatment, one of which is extremely serious. A moment's lapse of concentration.....
Without going into details, both members were caught out by newer and bigger engines than they were accustomed to. Bigger engines mean bigger propellers, more power and even more danger.
What can we tell you?
- Stay focused on what you're doing. If you're starting an engine, start it - don't discuss the mating habits of the Amazonian ground squirrel, however interesting they may be!
(What's an Amazonian ground squirrel, I can hear you ask, and what's so interesting about it's mating habits?).
(What's an Amazonian ground squirrel, I can hear you ask, and what's so interesting about it's mating habits?).
- I thought you were reading about engine safety? See how easy it is to lose concentration? It's a good job you're not starting an engine, isn't it?
- Propellers are dangerous at the best of times - don't get over-enthusiastic with your new engine.
- Always , but always , stay behind the propeller.
- If someone's running in a new engine, don't ask them " What rev's it doing? How much was that? Is it ringed or ABC? " and so on. Don't distract them.
- If you don't know exactly what you're doing, don't do it! Go and ask for some help.
- Personnally speaking, I prefer to run engines in in an airframe. The wings stick out way beyond the propeller and tend to keep you away from it. In addition, people tend to be much more carefull around a model aircraft rather than a jury-rigged bench run - don't ask me why.
- If you are bench-running, make damn' sure the engine and whatever it's fixed to can't move. Two elastic bands, a Tyrap and servo tape are not securing the engine!
- Always hook up the radio gear to the engine when bench running and use the transmitter to vary the throttle setting. It's predictable in it's response (Another reason for bench-running in an airframe?). Don't hook up a scrap piece of wire to the throttle then hope it's long enough.
- Make sure that nothing can get near the prop - not rags or tools and especially not you or anyone else!
Finally, on both occasions, there were several other Club Members around the flying field at the time of the accidents. There was plenty of willing help to organise getting the casualties away for Accident and Emergency treatment at the local hospital and then sorting out the relatively unimportant stuff like models, radio, cars, all that kind of thing. Thanks, guys. I'll leave it to your imagination what might have happened if the two guys had been on their own.
Sorry for thumping the old soap box but this has been a very traumatic time for all concerned.
Get well soon, guys! and for the rest of you out there:-
Stay Safe!