Even experienced modelers can be bitten by propellers
Dave Arthur is a great guy. After you read his story, I bet you'll agree.
Dave was in a hobby shop getting his electric sport airplane repaired. The model had minor damage, but not as much as Dave's bandaged hand. My friend Tony was behind the counter, and there was a twinkle in his eye as he introduced us. Dave explained his mishap.
He had been working on the airplane when his transmitter stick got bumped and the throttle went to full. The propeller instantly bit into Dave's hand. He said it was more than one slice. The blades continued to spin and cut him. It took 15 stitches to close it. He was forgiving of the airplane—more than I would have been—and posed with it for the picture you see.
I was clear about what I intended to do with the photo and information. Dave laughed, not knowing until that moment that he had been confessing to the Model Aviation "Safety Comes First" columnist, but he cheerfully agreed to let me retell his tale.
He felt that because the incident was so awful, the only possible silver lining would be if people could read about the situation and think twice before getting into the same jam.
Dave is not an inexperienced kid. He is a careful modeler who knows well—especially now—what damage an RC electric power system can do. But even with his maturity and sound judgment, Dave had a brief moment of inattention and paid the price.
The modelers in the shop discussed the accident and what might have prevented it. Some pilots carefully place the radio out of the way, wrap rubber bands around the throttle stick, or use other mechanical gimmicks. Others prefer an arming switch, which allows signals to reach the controls but not the motor during pit work.
There is also a danger for gas pilots who switch to electrics. We are accustomed to the engine being safe when it’s not running and take for granted that it won’t start up until we start it. We all know differently about electrics, but in our subconscious, that old complacency cannot wait for the right moment to bite us.
Dave’s foam model is a midsize sport aircraft, but it caused plenty of damage. When we work with even bigger models, we must remember to be cautious. The risk gets greater, along with the horsepower.
Ray Must Be Psychic
Ray Teliczan sent me this funny/awful photo of a model with a saw blade in time to go with the previous story. Ray’s photo might be proof that some modelers have too much time on their hands, but his picture might also help someone remember what can happen when fingers and propellers meet.
Things That Spin
Bob Mandeville emailed me about a television show he saw. It appears that in special circumstances it might be possible to create an explosion hazard with our shop grinders.
Bob said that "under certain circumstances, grinding aluminum and then grinding carbon steel can produce a crude form of thermite that might spoil your whole day by making the wheel explode."
He added that "everyone knows not to grind aluminum in the first place." Well, I didn't, but we agreed that only a far-fetched set of circumstances could lead to this danger.
Thermite is the pyrotechnic combination of metal powder fuel and metal oxide. An explosive situation would involve aluminum dust, the right amount of rust on the steel, and a great deal of bad luck, but apparently it could happen. We agreed that thermite formation is a small worry, but grinding metal always requires caution.
As for grinding aluminum, a bit of aluminum tubing or sheeting and a cutoff wheel on my Dremel is a far cry from a big piece of metal and a bench grinder. The concern is that aluminum could melt and load up the wheel and set up a vibration that could possibly shatter it.
SAFETY COMES FIRST
Email such as the one Bob wrote is the best kind—filled with experience and contrasting viewpoints. Please consider sending me your new or old close-call stories or suggestions, or any hot information you might have about modeling hazards. Wisdom from real modelers is the best way to learn about our hobby.
My Turn to Confess
There was an incident last week. I instigated it. Of course, I'm wracked with guilt! I broke every safety rule in the book, and in front of a bunch of kids.
My models flew close to spectators and over the kids' heads. At the climax, there I was, daring them to hit me with their model airplanes.
Okay, I was deliberately breaking the rules with those kids, but it was in a gym and the models were indoor types—none weighing more than 18 grams. I was flying in an air show for an afterschool program.
Although I was not putting anyone in danger, it kept bothering me that I broke the safety rules, so I paid penance by having the kids use me as a target for their new hand-launched gliders.
Mystery Airplane Time!
The last one was an F-4 Phantom, and the photo was taken at the marvelous Grissom Air Museum in Peru, Indiana. Guess this month's airplane and win a prize.
The picture was taken from inside the airplane, but all of you aviation fans should recognize that unique cockpit.
Email your guess to me and you'll win special "Safety Comes First" commemorative Delta Dart plans. Print them out and build one if you're into irreverently decorated free-flight models.
Stumped? Simply ask and you'll get the plans anyway. Email only please. There are no printed copies.
Sources
- Grissom Air Museum
(765) 689-8011 www.grissomairmuseum.com
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
