Gear issue-This guy was very wise to get towed in

[crazyaviator]

In a similar vein, Its a fly-in on the weekend, A/C battery is dead, wants AME ( me ) to help. I hand start it . I prefer to do it BEHIND the prop IF its an unknown person at the controls ,,,,Whats your opinion ???

[PilotDAR]

My opinion is that if under the control of a person I don't know, or an airplane I do not know, it will be effectively chocked or tied before I'll hand prop it.

[pelmet]

My opinion is that if under the control of a person I don't know, or an airplane I do not know, it will be effectively chocked or tied before I'll hand prop it.

I used to hand prop without tie down or chocks. There was no tiedown available but chocks were. Based on my situation I found the chock idea more dangerous. I got the pilot to set the park brake. Then I pushed on the aircraft in order to ensure that the brakes were holding firmly then hand propped.

I hated the idea of removing the chocks as I had to get close to that invisible prop crouched down to remove the chocks. The danger is forgetting about the prop and then getting hit by it. It may sound so obvious to just remember not to move into the prop arc but on rare occasion, something sudden happens such as a persons hat blowing away, going after it and being killed(it has happened) or some other sudden or distracting event at a critical moment. Just personal opinion but on a good surface with a good park brake, I think that the chock idea increases risk.

No brake or poor braking capability is different of course.

[groncher]

Maybe chock the mains?

[pelmet]

Maybe chock the mains?

The mains on a taildragger are what I am referring to. Very close to the prop. Would make sense for a tricycle gear aircraft though.

However, it is pretty rare to find a tricycle gear aircraft needing a handprop. Did have to do it once with a Twin Cessna though with a bad contactor many years back. I was lucky and it caught on the second attempt. Was actually on a date and apparently she was impressed.

[New Flyer]

The situation for these guys was actually much scarier than the description entails.
When the aircraft actually first settled down on the mains, the nose gear swung fully aft, then swung back forward.
The aircraft then rose again slightly, and the nose gear swung fully aft again.
Twice the gear swung fully back, before coming forward again just in time as the plane settled down.
I am not sure even the pilots realized the pendulum effect of the gear as they were landing.