Safety Comes First
BOOM! Since writing the last Safety column, I received three letters concerning fuel can explosions or ignitions. Two letters described actual incidents, and the third contained a warning concerning such incidents. Strangely enough, two of the letters arrived in my mailbox simultaneously. First, the explosion. Those of you who read Model Builder magazine may have read an account of a fuel can explosion in Al Alman's "Big Birds" column. Al sent me a copy of his draft column together with a letter suggesting I include all or part of it in this Safety column "to be sure that everybody gets the word" about the potential fire/explosion hazard that may exist when fuel cans are placed close to an electrical power source such as a battery in a flight box. Al's entire column follows.
Safety Comes First
WARNING LABELS. In the April 1986 issue of this magazine, I reprinted a letter from David Lewis which suggested that RC equipment should carry a warning label that, pictorially or otherwise, would identify whether its frequency was one of those assigned for aircraft models only or for surface (boat/car) models only. David felt that such labels would minimize the sales of radios on frequencies which are illegal for their intended use. I forwarded David's suggestion to the chairman of the AMA Safety Committee, Jim McNeill, and enclosed a letter in which I stated that I felt that this suggestion should be pursued. I was pleased to see in Johnny Clemens' District VIII VP report (in the August 1986 issue) that such labels will soon appear on RC equipment, identifying its legal use.
Safety Comes First
FOLLOW-UP on explosions and fire. In the October 1986 issue, this column carried reports of explosions and fires associated with glow fuel cans. Several readers of that issue sent letters which offered some explanations concerning these hazards and advised how to minimize the possibility of this happening to you. First, let me quote from a letter from Jim Marble, a modeler from Aurora, IN who had some comments on the fuel can fire in the basement of a modeler who had left the flying field because of an impending thunderstorm. For those who don't keep back issues of their magazines, this incident involved an almost empty fuel can which, when a modeler attempted to unscrew the cap to refill it while in his basement workshop, resulted in ignition of the fuel vapor in the can and caused severe second-degree burns to his hand. Jim had the following to say:
Safety Comes First
ENGINES: Starting techniques. The injury associated with the sport of model airplanes which is most frequently reported is a laceration caused by contact with a rotating propeller. Judging by my mail, it seems that the most likely time that modelers will contact a turning prop is during the engine starting/tuning operation. If your model's engine is not equipped with a throttle (as is the case with most installations in Free Flight and Control Line models), you have no alternative but to flip the prop and expect the engine to scream at full bore the minute it fires. However, the greatest number of AMA members fly radio-controlled models, and most of the engines in these models are equipped with a throttle. So full-throttle starts can be-and in my opinion should be-avoided.
Safety Comes First
I'M RECOVERING from jet lag as I begin this month's Safety column. It is a result of a two-week visit to Hong Kong, Beijing, and Bangkok. A 12-hour time difference is about as much as you can get! This trip was business-related and, although I had no time to check out any hobby stores, during my stay in Hong Kong I visited a factory that produces RC cars but no model aircraft. I also had time for a brief walk on the Great Wall of China and visited Wat Phra Kaeo, the Grand Palace in Bangkok. It's no fun being back at work! Battery warning. This column has previously mentioned certain hazards that can result from a lack of knowledge of and/or respect for the batteries that we use in our hobby. A number of years ago I related an incident experienced by a fellow modeler who did extensive damage to his home when he inadvertently attempted to charge a Ni-Cd pack at a high rate and a fire resulted.
