On July 6, 1987, a Beech A23-19 (registration N5775V) operated by Herman Albert Schulteis was involved in an aviation accident near Cambridge, MD. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
An aircraft failed to start, leading the pilot to hand prop it. The engine started immediately, breaking tie-down ropes made of polypropylene that had weakened from sun exposure. The aircraft traveled into a ditch and sustained substantial damage.
Incident Details
According to the investigation report, the pilot set the throttle and ensured the aircraft was tied down before attempting to start the engine by hand propping. The aircraft started immediately upon the hand propping attempt. The force of the initial engine start caused both tie-down ropes to break. The aircraft then traveled across the field and into a ditch, where it came to a stop. The aircraft sustained substantial damage as a result of the incident.
Tie-Down Rope Condition
The tie-down ropes that failed were made of polypropylene. The report notes that these ropes had weakened over years of exposure to sunlight. The polypropylene material had deteriorated due to prolonged sun exposure, reducing their strength and contributing to their failure during the engine start.
Outcome
Following the incident, the tie-down ropes were replaced with new ropes made of nylon. The replacement ropes are 3/8 inch in diameter. No other corrective actions are mentioned in the report. The aircraft sustained substantial damage but the extent of repairs required is not specified.