Summary
A pilot attempted to start an aircraft engine by hand propping after a low battery charge prevented normal starting. During the procedure, the engine became flooded. The pilot shut off the magnetos and opened the throttle to clear the engine while hand turning the propeller. Subsequently, he turned on the master switch and magnetos but failed to close the throttle. While hand propping with no one at the controls, the engine started, and the aircraft jumped the chocks, striking an unoccupied plane.
Incident Details
The pilot elected to hand prop the aircraft because the battery charge was insufficient to start the engine. After the engine became flooded, he turned off the magnetos and opened the throttle to clear the engine while manually turning the propeller. He then reactivated the master switch and magnetos but neglected to close the throttle. With the throttle open and no pilot at the controls, the engine started when he hand propped the aircraft. The resulting engine power caused the aircraft to lurch forward, jump over the chocks, and collide with an unoccupied aircraft.