I almost killed my dog today

timwinters

timwinters

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Boris (aka Buddy) logged his first flight with me on 6/14 and since then he’s logged a total of 21 hours of cross country time going back and forth to Wisconsin with me. He seems to love flying. And actually, he seems to love all forms of traveling.

When I returned home from Wisconsin on Wednesday it was time to change the oil so I pulled the plug and I returned to the airport today to change the oil and wash the plane. Of course, I had to ground run the plane after changing the oil and filter.

Buddy was in my 4Runner. Doors closed windows wide open.

I fired up the plane and the next thing I know my dog is standing next to the engine with that "don't you dare leave without me" look on his face.

Unfortunately, my first reaction wasn't to pull the mixture...no...my first reaction was to yell at him to get back in the car (yeah, I’m a dumb a$$). He responded by MOVING YET CLOSER TO THE PROP!!!!
bigshock.gif


No, **** folks, my dog's head was within a foot or two of the prop spinning at about 2000rpm. My heart skipped a few beats, I lost a few years, and I got grayer yet. I pulled the mixture, the prop stopped (after an eternity) and Buddy was untouched.

Wow. Just F’ing wow.

He'll definitely be TIED TO SOMETHING the next time I fire up the airplane with him around.

Here's Buddy, this evening after the incident...no worries here. He doesn't realize how lucky he is to be here.

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And Ms. DueBeUs...clean oil, clean inside and out, ready for her next mission.

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Daddy's going to have a beer and go to bed now!
 
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Yikes!!! I thought maybe you named him "Clear" or something. :hairraise:

I must say though, that's a good-lookin' airplane! :yes:
 
Man, as a dog worshiping fool that little account about did me in. I'm SO glad for you and Boris it turned out ok. I ground ran my plane at home in front of the shop a couple times and nervously fretted about the possible ways my dogs could get out of the house. I waited till no one was home, doors and windows shut, dogs in their kennels IN the house...

I'm always freeked out when I see dogs at GA airports. Props are a horrible way to die and they'd never understand an almost silent glider landing.

We also have a big rope swing in the yard with a small tower to jump off of. Dogs must be secured when it's swinging time. They don't get swings and even a little kid, not to mention all the "big kids" swinging would wipe out just about any dog after a tower jump.
 
As close as the left aileron is to that "POST" :yikes:... I am kinda curious as to why no chalks around the wheels ?

Glad you had a happy ending with your dog.. The thought of a prop strike is nightmare stuff for sure.

Ben.
 
Oh man....that would be a nightmare...glad it worked out....enjoy that beer/s
 
N801BH said:
As close as the left aileron is to that "POST" :yikes:... I am kinda curious as to why no chalks around the wheels?
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I just can't imagine why drawing with chalk around the wheels would help that situation! :no:

Better to just put some chocks down! :yes:

;) :) :D
 
Any dog trainer will tell you that "whoa" (stop where you are, don't move until I release you) is the most important command for an owner (and his dog) to know when off of the leash. Your situation is a perfect example why.

timwinters said:
Boris (aka Buddy) logged his first flight with me on 6/14 and since then he’s logged a total of 21 hours of cross country time going back and forth to Wisconsin with me. He seems to love flying. And actually, he seems to love all forms of traveling.

When I returned home from Wisconsin on Wednesday it was time to change the oil so I pulled the plug and I returned to the airport today to change the oil and wash the plane. Of course, I had to ground run the plane after changing the oil and filter.

Buddy was in my 4Runner. Doors closed windows wide open.

I fired up the plane and the next thing I know my dog is standing next to the engine with that "don't you dare leave without me" look on his face.

Unfortunately, my first reaction wasn't to pull the mixture...no...my first reaction was to yell at him to get back in the car (yeah, I’m a dumb a$$). He responded by MOVING YET CLOSER TO THE PROP!!!!
bigshock.gif


No, **** folks, my dog's head was within a foot or two of the prop spinning at about 2000rpm. My heart skipped a few beats, I lost a few years, and I got grayer yet. I pulled the mixture, the prop stopped (after an eternity) and Buddy was untouched.

Wow. Just F’ing wow.

He'll definitely be TIED TO SOMETHING the next time I fire up the airplane with him around.

Here's Buddy, this evening after the incident...no worries here. He doesn't realize how lucky he is to be here.

13161-7-3-09006small.JPG


And Ms. DueBeUs...clean oil, clean inside and out, ready for her next mission.

13160-7-3-09002small.JPG



13159-7-3-09001small.JPG


Daddy's going to have a beer and go to bed now!
Click to expand...
 
Next time, I'd go for the mags first and then the mixture second. Probably stops the prop more quickly.
 
Jeez... when she was younger, even my 3-legged dog once managed to slither out a half-open car window (same sort of deal- "where you goin' without me?!"). Never underestimate dogs' ability to get where they should not be- they're almost as bad as little kids when it comes to that.
I'm sure you won't forget again... and that includes leaving it up to someone else nearby to restrain him.
 
The safest way is to have the dog in the plane with you - that's what I always do with Reilly. I can't imagine how I'd feel if he was hit by the prop, or any other dog either. Glad Buddy is OK.
 

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etsisk said:
I just can't imagine why drawing with chalk around the wheels would help that situation! :no:

Better to just put some chocks down! :yes:

;) :) :D
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If the poor dog got hit by the prop it would be a "crime scene" hence the Chalk outline.. of course I did miss spell chocks ..........and now for penance I will say 20 hail mary's.... Ya right .:nonod:
 
On his first trip to California after getting his PPL, hubby promised everyone in the family a flight around the traffic pattern. Mom, Dad, two sisters and sundry children, even his Grandmother was in the FBO when we walked out to the plane to taxi it back to the FBO. Before leaving, he made sure each of the children knew to stay INSIDE until he came to get them, then he also made an adult responsible for knowing where each child was while inside the FBO.

We got in the plane, started it up and looked up just in time to see his MOTHER about to run into the prop. He got the throttle and the mags turned off instantly and chewed her out for the first time ever. Fortunately, mothers understand well enough he has never had to restrain her since.
 
As another dog owner, I can only imagine your concern when it was happeing! Very glad it turned out all right though!!!!!
 
A quick and funny story...at least both Chris and I thought so...

Even though Buddy has logged over 40 hours since his inaugural flight on 6/14, almost all his trips have been long cross countries. So, when we left Clintonville, WI yesterday for Waupaca he had only experienced 12 start ups.

We were on the ground at CLI going through the pre-start up checklist and Buddy was laying down (maybe sleeping) in the back. It's time to start up and I yell "clear"...

Buddy pops up and sticks his head out of my open window and waits for the fan to start up.

Even Chris thought that was hilarious.

He is indeed a pretty smart dog...
 
Tail tie down also makes a great place to tie the dog to. Just don't pull a Clark Griswold.
 
NoHeat said:
Do all of the FBOs Buddy visits have grassy areas suitable for, um, exercising dogs?
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No FBO's...

My home base is a 2600' grass strip @ Marble Hill, MO and I think when I moved here last December I increased the amount of traffic tenfold. There's grass everywhere for him here and no other airplanes.

At the other end of my current and regurlar weekly XC is Clintonville, WI. I rent a hangar in the back 40 and, yes, there is grass everywhere there too.

On the rare occasion we go other places, there is usually grass to be found and there's Wal-Mart bags in the plane to collect his trophies...which sometimes are nearly as big as he is.:eek:
 
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