Narrative:

The airplane had been having difficulty starting since the onset of cold WX. The battery had just been replaced. I tried to start the engine without success and got out to adjust the propeller. I neglected to turn off the magnetos and when I moved the propeller the engine started. The propeller hit me on the head and the right elbow. I was hospitalized for 5 days. The incident could have been prevented if I had been certain I turned the magnetos off.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN SMA PLT IS INJURED WHEN HE IS STRUCK BY THE PROP WHEN ATTEMPTING TO 'ADJUST' THE PROP BY HAND WITH THE MAGNETO SWITCH STILL IN THE 'ON' POS. THE ACFT HAD BEEN DIFFICULT TO START IN COLD WX AT 4AC, NM.

Narrative: THE AIRPLANE HAD BEEN HAVING DIFFICULTY STARTING SINCE THE ONSET OF COLD WX. THE BATTERY HAD JUST BEEN REPLACED. I TRIED TO START THE ENG WITHOUT SUCCESS AND GOT OUT TO ADJUST THE PROP. I NEGLECTED TO TURN OFF THE MAGNETOS AND WHEN I MOVED THE PROP THE ENG STARTED. THE PROP HIT ME ON THE HEAD AND THE R ELBOW. I WAS HOSPITALIZED FOR 5 DAYS. THE INCIDENT COULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED IF I HAD BEEN CERTAIN I TURNED THE MAGNETOS OFF.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.