Incident Overview
A pilot sustained a serious injury while attempting to start an airplane's engine using the hand-propping method. According to the pilot's account, the engine started abruptly, causing the aircraft to lurch forward. The rotating propeller then struck the left side of the pilot's body, resulting in the severing of his left arm.
Sequence of Events
The pilot reported that he attempted to start the engine by manually rotating the propeller. During this process, the engine started suddenly and with unexpected force. The airplane moved forward sharply, bringing the pilot into contact with the spinning propeller blades. The pilot stated that he had inadvertently positioned the throttle control in the full open (on) position prior to the attempt. Additionally, he acknowledged that he had not secured the airplane, such as by setting the brakes or chocking the wheels, before beginning the start-up procedure.
Mechanical Status
The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with either the airframe or the engine. The aircraft and its systems were functioning normally at the time of the incident.