Register

The Man Who Saved the Iconic Hartzell Propeller Company

Memories of the manufacturer revolve around a wonderful man, the late Jim Brown.

It’s difficult to describe how much the late Jim Brown loved the Hartzell Propeller Company and its people. [Stephen Yeates]
Gemini Sparkle

Key Takeaways:

  • A fatal accident was caused by a faulty, worn ignition switch that failed to ground the magnetos, allowing an engine to unexpectedly start even after being turned "off."
  • Pilots are reminded to always treat propellers as "hot," perform a brief magneto check (off-then-both) at idle before shutdown, and verify their ignition key cannot be removed in any position other than "off."
  • The article includes a tribute to Jim Brown, former owner of Hartzell Propeller Company, highlighting his leadership, dedication to employees, and passion for aviation.
See a mistake? Contact us.

Do you remember briefly turning the magneto switch to the “off” position and back to “both” before shutting down with the mixture control? I guess I knew why sometime in the past, but truthfully I’d forgotten about it. And I can’t remember testing any applicants, in years as an examiner, who did it.

But recently I read a National Transportation Safety Board report about a fatal accident involving a 42-year-old Cessna 182 parked on a ramp in Cleveland, Tennessee. What happened is important, I think, because so many of us fly elderly GA airplanes with key-style ignition switches that may be faulty and not know it.

Martha Lunken

Martha Lunken is a lifelong pilot, former FAA inspector and defrocked pilot examiner. She flies a Cessna 180 and anything with a tailwheel, from Cubs to DC-3s.

Ready to Sell Your Aircraft?

List your airplane on AircraftForSale.com and reach qualified buyers.

List Your Aircraft
AircraftForSale Logo | FLYING Logo
Pilot in aircraft
Sign-up for newsletters & special offers!

Get the latest stories & special offers delivered directly to your inbox.

SUBSCRIBE