I was sitting on the shaft of #2 Main Engine on board USS Peleliu, cleaning out the oil sump as part of replacing the spring bearing. Similar to the pix below. We were making turns for 24 knots on the other shaft to keep up with the squadron of gators.
As I was working the pin holding the shaft motionless broke and the 16'9" #2 propellor being dragged the water by the other shaft went free. It flipped me into the bulkhead about six feet away and knocked me unconscious for ~18 hours. They nearly helo'd me off the ship, but I woke up enough to give them my name and SSN, so they figured I'd recover. Eventually.
![[Image: 171019-n-aj467-073-atlantic-ocean-oct-19...MMDX2J.jpg]](https://c8.alamy.com/comp/MMDX2J/171019-n-aj467-073-atlantic-ocean-oct-19-2017-machinists-mate-1st-class-robert-denoya-shows-machinists-mate-fireman-apprentice-tyler-prince-how-to-check-the-bearing-sump-level-in-shaft-alley-aboard-the-aircraft-carrier-uss-george-hw-bush-cvn-77-the-george-hw-bush-strike-group-is-currently-underway-completing-sustainment-requirements-as-part-of-exercise-bold-alligator-17-us-navy-photo-by-mass-communication-specialist-seaman-darien-weigelreleased-MMDX2J.jpg)
As I was working the pin holding the shaft motionless broke and the 16'9" #2 propellor being dragged the water by the other shaft went free. It flipped me into the bulkhead about six feet away and knocked me unconscious for ~18 hours. They nearly helo'd me off the ship, but I woke up enough to give them my name and SSN, so they figured I'd recover. Eventually.
