On May 11, 1982, a Beech E33 (registration N7457N) operated by M Gilbert & Y E Armani was involved in an aviation accident near Bedford, MA. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
A pilot exited an aircraft after shutting it down, but the engine started while he was pulling it through. The aircraft moved across the ramp and struck another plane. Investigation revealed a faulty ignition switch.
Incident Overview
The pilot reported that he was unable to start the aircraft using the electric starter because the battery lacked sufficient power to crank the engine. He then shut off the battery and alternator switches, turned off the magneto switch, and removed the keys. After exiting the aircraft, he began manually pulling the engine through to coat the cylinder walls with oil. Subsequently, the engine started, and the aircraft traveled across the ramp and struck another plane.
Investigation Findings
An investigation revealed that the keys could be removed from the ignition switch while the switch was in the right magneto position. A teardown inspection of the ignition switch showed that the contacts were burned and the lock cylinder chamber was worn. Additionally, there was no record indicating compliance with Airworthiness Directive (AD) 76-07-12, which requires an inspection of the Bendix ignition switch, part number 10-357200-1.