Safety Alert - Check Ignition Switch/Key Integrity

Key-type airplane ignition switches and associated keys can sometimes become worn so that it is possible to remove the key from the switch in other than the OFF position, which could lead to an unintended engine startup during hand movement of the propeller creating an extremely hazardous condition. The full safety alert can be viewed at www.ntsb.gov/air.

[@AKKalashnikov]

Part of our FBO’s preflight checklist instructs one to “verify ignition switch in off position.” I’ve always been vigilant in ensuring it’s all the way to the left & clearly in the off position. Glad to see my precautions are well founded!

[@michaelreamy4030]

Great reminder! While preflighting my pipeline patrol plane this morning, the key would pull out of the "Right" position! Wrote it up for replacement. About a year ago, on another patrol plane, when I reversed course while flying a gathering system, the key fell out on the floor out of sight. On landing, maintenance replaced the switch. To put that in perspective, a couple of weeks later, I had a mag go south. It sure was nice to be able to identify the bad mag and operate on the good mag to get back to the closest airport without the engine running rough. That would have been tough to do with the key somewhere on the floor!

[@boonedockjourneyman7979]

Thank you for your continuous, relentless struggle to protect Americans. You are part of what separates us from the chaos I’ve seen elsewhere on this planet.

[@MikeWMiami]

Great safety tip! Thank you!

[@wa9als]

When did switches that don’t permit removal except in OFF position first appear in single engine piston aircraft, or have they always been like this?

[@joetexas1546]

Good Stuff.

[@dryan8377]

Never hand prop a plane. That whirly gig looking thing on the front is a deadly weapon pointed right at you.

[@dwightbernheimer331]

Just the same as most motor vehicles...

[@reginahorn6547]

Lmk rec.msg tryna communicate momentarily godbless peace. Regina

[@othername1000]

Okay NTSB, there's been a major bus crash and a flat flat-earther. Any updates? Go-teams? Any briefings? Thanks! ETA, looks like a plane crash or two as well. Any info on those? Looks like the news reports are saying you guys are going to look at the plane crashes and the bus. No word on the rocket yet. Hopefully you can investigate and cover these. Looks like two or three civil aviation incidents. I thought investigations on those were mandatory but there's nothing on the channel for some reason? Some commercial news people are showing a media brief from somebody who claims to be with the NTSB. But again there's nothing on the official channel for some reason. So maybe it's fake news... So we all come here to try to get the story from you. Also anything at all on that helicopter crash in Hawaii, months ago? The rumors are you launched but there's nothing here either. Thanks again