What happened
The incident occurred when an aircraft nosed over while taxiing in an unoccupied state. The event was initiated by the pilot, who reported being unable to start the aircraft using normal procedures. Consequently, the pilot chose to hand-prop the engine with no one present in the cockpit.
Once the engine started, the unoccupied aircraft began to move from the ramp area. It crossed a taxiway and proceeded onto a runway without any control input from inside the cabin. The aircraft eventually left the paved surface, entering soft ground adjacent to the runway. Upon encountering this terrain, the nose gear sheared off, causing the aircraft to pitch forward and come to rest in a nosed-over position.
The investigation
The primary mechanical failure identified during the examination was the shearing of the nose landing gear. This structural failure was directly attributed to the excessive stress placed on the gear assembly as the uncontrolled aircraft moved into soft, unpaved ground. No other pre-impact mechanical anomalies were cited in the factual narrative regarding the start procedure itself.
Findings
The sequence of events highlights a critical deviation from standard operating procedures. The pilot's decision to hand-prop an engine with no one in the cockpit removed all means of controlling the aircraft once it began to move. This lack of control allowed the aircraft to taxi uncontrolled across active areas, leading to the loss of directional control and subsequent structural failure when leaving the prepared surface.
Safety message
Pilots must never hand-prop an engine with no one in the cockpit. The inability to control the aircraft during startup can lead to uncontrolled movement, posing severe risks to personnel and property.