During forward launch with calm winds, the starter cord failed to fully retract and was ingested by the propeller, causing a loud bang and chunk of prop to break off along with damage to starter cup. Pilot shut down immediately and aborted takeoff. No injuries but hardware damage.
Hardware failure
High — very likely identified
Pilot set up for forward launch in calm winds in an old hay field with undulating terrain. Had flown earlier in the day. Warmed motor, hooked in and restarted using kick start. Ran motor for about a minute to warm and check throttle response. Inflation was normal. During the run, motor hesitated then gained power. As pilot started to lift off, there was a bang and a piece of metal flew past on the left side. Pilot immediately shut down, unhooked and inspected. Found a chunk missing from one end of the propeller and fuzz (similar to milkweed silk) under the motor. Initially looked for frame or exhaust damage but found nothing else missing. Then noticed the starter cord and handle were missing. Backtracking, found a piece of metal and the starter handle with short piece of cord attached. Upon disassembly at home, discovered the metal piece was part of the starter cup. The spring was still intact.
Starter cord and handle failed to fully retract after kick-starting the motor, or possibly bounced out during rough running. The cord was then ingested by the spinning propeller during takeoff run, causing mechanical failure and damage to prop and starter cup.
Mostly correct inputs while reacting
October 18, 2008
17:55:00
United States
Footlaunch
Age: 59, Weight: 180 lbs, Had flown earlier same day at 1345hr without issues
Calm winds
Calm winds, overcast had broken earlier in the day
Oct. 18, 2008, 1755hr,calm winds, old hay field, not rough but undulating.I had flight earlier in the day(1345), it had gotten bumpy as the overcast broke,but was uneventful. 1755 I set up for a forward as the wind was calm.I had previously warmed the motor, hooked in and restarted using a kick start. I ran the motor for a minute or so to re-warm and assure throttle response. Inflation was normal. I continued the run, the motor hesitated. The motor gained power and I started to lift off when there was a bang and I saw a piece of metal fly past me on the left. I shut down unhooked and looked to see what had come off. There was a chunk missing from one end of the prop, and fuzz (similar to milkweed silk) under the motor. I expected to see frame or exhaust damage to account for the piece of metal, nothing missing. Thats when I noticed the lack of starter cord and handle. Backtracking I found a piece of metal and the starter handle with a short piece of cord. When I got home and started taking the starter off, it was obvious that the metal was part of the starter cup. I don't know if the starter handle failed to fully retract, or bounced out from the rough run. The spring is still intact. I have obtained new starter parts and a starter. Things seem to work fine. I will be more diligent when using the kick start,but I don't know of any other precautions.