What is one safety procedure to observe when hand-propping a small aircraft engine?

When hand-propping a small aircraft engine, ensuring there is a qualified person in the cockpit is crucial for safety. This individual is responsible for managing the engine's start sequence and can react quickly to any issues that may arise during the process. Their presence ensures that they are prepared to handle the engine controls and can stop the start attempt if anything goes wrong, enhancing overall safety during this potentially hazardous operation.

In general, the presence of a qualified person helps in coordinating the hand-propping process, making sure that the operator performing the prop swing is aware when to initiate the action and when to halt it if necessary. This procedure is vital to mitigate the risks involved in starting the engine manually.