Incident Description
During an attempted engine start, the pilot believed the propeller was stuck because the engine did not respond to the battery-driven starter. After the failed start attempt, the pilot secured the aircraft by turning the master switch off, placing the ignition key in the off position, and pulling both the mixture and throttle levers fully out. He then exited the aircraft with the intention of manually moving the propeller to free it.
Pilot Actions
Upon exiting, the pilot applied a slight movement to the propeller. This action caused the engine to start unexpectedly. With the engine running, the aircraft moved forward and collided with a parked Aero Commander. The pilot had not anticipated that moving the propeller would start the engine, given that all cockpit controls were set to off positions.
Inspection Findings
A subsequent inspection of the magneto switch and the magnetos themselves revealed no irregularities. The components functioned as designed, with no evidence of malfunction or improper wiring that could explain the engine's unexpected start. The incident highlights the potential for an engine to start even when cockpit controls are in the off position, if the propeller is moved manually under certain conditions.