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FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR'S MANUAL 53
SWINGING THE PROPELLER

Every student shoulde be taught the proper method of swinging a propeller, be made to realize thoroughky the hazards incident thereto, and impressed with the necessity for constant care in order to avoid them. Too many airplanes are now equipped with starters has resulted in many instructors ignoring this instruction. It is important that this instruction be given and thoroughly understood, for sooner or later every pilot will be called upon to swing a propeller and a serius accident is likely to occur if it is improperly done.
The firs rule to be fixed in the student's mind is: When touching a propeller always consider that the switch is on.
Is this rule is remembered, ans the attendant precautions taken, a propeller should give no cause for fears. It is only the careless or unwary eho have accidents. If the rule is observed, neither mistakes by the person in the cockpit nor mechanical troubles will ever cause an accident and the student should have this thoroughly impressed on his mind.
Before touching a propeller, the student should examine the ground or surface under foot to be sure that he willl not bestandind in mud, slippery grass, grease, or on gravel or any other substance that might cause him to slip and fall into or under the propeller.
If such a surface is present the airplane should be moved to a different spot before an attempt is made to "swing the propeller."
After examining the ground or surface, the wheels should be checked to see that they are securely "chocked." A competent operator should be in the cockpit.
Having taken these preliminary precautions,the student should then call Gas On - Switch Off and wait for the reply, Gas On - Switch Off, before touching the propeller.
In airplanes of low horsepower, the propeller may be swung with one hand, while standing behind it and holding on to a strut with the other hand. In this position the propeller is thrown sharply downward over a compression or two by one hand while the other hand in front of the propeller on one side, close enough to be able to reach it without stretching forward so far that he is in an unbalanced position, ans far enough away to be well clear of the path of the propeller at the bottom of its arc.
If the engine has a gigh compression or is stiff it may ne necessary to gain additional force by stepping sharply back with the right foot. That is, the weight is shifted to the left leg, the right foot is raised slightly and is kicked down and backwards, almost simultaneously with the arms, in bringing the blade down. This action causes the bending of the body and its backward movementm rather than contraction of the arms, to impart most of the force.
In doing this the foot ot leg should never be allowed to get under the blade of the propeller, and it should be well back before the pro