Return to the incident list: Incident List Prop Strike PPG Type: Type of Injury:

Pilot Details

Age: 36 Weight: 195 Gender: Highest rating held at the time of the incident: Pilot experience level:

Gear Details

Wing Brand: Model: Size: Paramotor Frame: Blackhawk 172 with

Incident Details

August 6, 2010 Location of the incident: , Type of Incident:

I had just attempted one takeoff that I had aborted due to engine performance. I decided to give it one last try before sunset. I thought that I would check out why I had a lack of rpm’s so I deharnessed and proceeded to start the engine. Upon start-up, I was facing the harness holding onto the cross bar above harness. Usually when I (and other pilots that I have seen do this)am testing for engine performance, I put a hip into the motor and brace myself against solid dry ground to hold engine into place. I did not do this and was the mistake that cost me a trip to the emergency room. I only halfway braced myself thinking that the engine was running poorly and then when it decided to run better it “lurched” into me. With the throttle in my right hand, I tried to catch it. This only made my hand squeeze the throttle even more and then it was really coming at me. It is a natural reaction to want to stop it. My right shoulder pushed through the netting enough to come in contact with the spinning prop. I quickly shut off the engine. It did not hurt like you might think. I knew I had been hit though and new from reading incident reports that prop strikes never came out good. I didn’t even have to look to know that I was in trouble. However, when I did look I saw a hole in me the size of a fist that I swore I saw bone in. I learned later at the emergency room that this was not bone but some grisly type material that resembles bone in appearance. I was very lucky not to have hit any major arteries, nerves or tendons. They were able to find enough skin to stitch me back together (13 large stitches). Here is what I learned: 1) If flying alone, make sure someone knows how to get to the area you are flying from. 2) Know where closest emergency room is. 3) Do your revving up of your engine on your back or have motor unit clamped down so it can’t move. If you must rev up out in field, fully brace yourself in anticipation that the motor could start to get away or come at you. 4) Things like this happen in a blink of an eye when you least expect them and can happen to anybody. 5) It could have been worse but also prevented.

Flight Window: Wind Speed: Type: Phase of Flight: Type of Injury: Collateral Damage: Analysis of the incident (additional input by the incident investigation team): Photos (if available):

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