What happened
The incident occurred during the preflight phase of flight operations. The pilot reported discovering that the aircraft's battery was completely discharged prior to attempting an engine start. In order to initiate the engine, the pilot applied the brakes and proceeded to hand-prop the aircraft.
Upon successfully starting the engine, the power setting reportedly increased rapidly to a high level. This sudden surge in thrust caused the aircraft to jump its wheel chocks despite the brakes being engaged. The uncontrolled forward movement resulted in the aircraft colliding with a parked aircraft, followed by a light pole and finally a fence.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the sequence of events leading to the collision. Examination of the accident site confirmed the path of travel from the parking area into the obstacles. Mechanical inspection was limited to the immediate cause of movement, which was identified as the high power setting during the hand-prop start procedure. No mechanical failure of the braking system or engine controls was cited as a primary factor in the report.
Findings
The primary contributing factor was the uncontrolled acceleration of the aircraft during the starting process. The combination of a dead battery necessitating a hand-prop start and the subsequent high power setting led to the loss of ground control. The pilot's decision to hand-prop an aircraft with a known electrical issue contributed to the severity of the outcome, as the lack of electrical systems may have affected monitoring capabilities or ignition timing.
Safety message
Pilots should exercise extreme caution when hand-propping aircraft, particularly those with known electrical issues. Ensuring that chocks are properly placed and that brakes are fully engaged is critical. Additionally, verifying battery health before starting procedures can prevent unexpected engine behavior during the start sequence.