Beechcraft UAV testing in Modesto didn't go well...

"WilliamsSW" (williamssw) 02/01/2019 at 16:19 • Filed to: Doctor killer, V-tail, Fuel and Spark? Really?

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I’m tellin’ ya, those V-tail Bonanzas are dangerous airplanes - they can even start themselves up and go cruising around the airport on their own.

https://www.avweb.com/avwebflash/news/Bonanza-Crashes-After-Unintentional-Engine-Start-232211-1.html

Somebody’s got some ‘splainin to do.

facw > WilliamsSW 02/01/2019 at 16:44

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I suppose it could have jumped them, but I’m suspicious...

Mercedes Streeter > WilliamsSW 02/01/2019 at 16:49

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Any landing you can walk away from...

Wait...unintentional engine start?!?!? How does that even happen?

user314 > Mercedes Streeter 02/01/2019 at 16:56

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Basically:

user314 > WilliamsSW 02/01/2019 at 16:57

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Skynet has started!

WilliamsSW > facw 02/01/2019 at 17:00

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The article I linked suggests that they were working on the plane, and not trying to start it - which doesn’t make a lot of sense, because the throttle must have been partly open to get to 40 mph .

Another link I found suggests that they were trying to hand prop it, which would at least explain why the throttle was open. But it still should have been chocked (and the parking brake set) , and if there was really *two* of them, one of the dummies should have been in the airplane.

WilliamsSW > Mercedes Streeter 02/01/2019 at 17:03

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AvWeb is pretty reliable - though I’ve seen another source that suggests they were trying to hand prop the engine. That said, an ‘unintentional start’ would require * all* of the following :

- a hot mag (a bad mag can be hot when you think it’s off)

- mixture somewhere other than idle cutoff

- AND pulling the prop through

Plus, in this case, I think the throttle was partially in, too (you wouldn’t get 40 mph at idle unless the wind was pushing it 35 mph).

Like I said above, somebody’s got some explaining to do.

WilliamsSW > user314 02/01/2019 at 17:15

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I was taught to *never* touch a prop any more than necessary, and never, ever stick anything more than your fingers into the prop disc. And be prepared to GTFO if you touched it and it caught.

That said, MIXTURE-IDLE CUTOFF and MAGNETOS-OFF FFS.

Chariotoflove > WilliamsSW 02/01/2019 at 17:22

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I like the haunted airplane theory in the comments. They should def get on that in the investigation.

I’ve never seen a situation where it was necessary to hand prop a modern plane.  Maybe you have; you have way more experience than I have.  But, I grew up with a healthy fear of propellers and never got within two arm’s lengths of one.  Of course, I’ve never needed to.

WilliamsSW > Chariotoflove 02/01/2019 at 17:51

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https://www.avweb.com/news/features/Hand-Propping-Demystified-223752-1.html

https://www.avweb.com/blogs/insider/Rhapsody-in-Yellow-Not-224782-1.html

A couple of articles on hand propping above - other than flying an old airplane that doesn’t have a starter, it’s rare, but not impossible, to need to prop an engine. I was never even taught how.

If I were the guys who were monkeying with the plane, I’d give the ‘haunted’ story a shot!

PyramidHat > Chariotoflove 02/01/2019 at 18:06

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I’ve had to manually turn a prop 90 degrees so I can hook up a tow bar. 

Chariotoflove > PyramidHat 02/01/2019 at 18:21

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Makes sense.