On September 22, 1991, a Piper PA-31T-620 (registration N2FJ) operated by Brazos Roofing Intl., Inc. was involved in an aviation accident near Santa FE, NM. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The owner, who was not a certificated pilot, started the right engine while the airplane was parked, leading to an uncontrolled roll after the chock was removed. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
A pilot attempted to remove a nosewheel chock while the owner had already started the right engine, resulting in an uncontrolled roll into two parked aircraft.
What happened
The incident occurred when a pilot approached the airplane and observed that the owner had already initiated the start sequence for the right engine. The owner was not a certificated pilot but had received some flying instruction. In preparation for departure, the pilot removed the nosewheel chock from under the landing gear. Shortly thereafter, the airplane began to move on its own. The pilot attempted to push against the airframe to stop it, but the effort was unsuccessful. The aircraft continued to roll until it collided with two other parked airplanes.
Findings
The uncontrolled movement was directly linked to the engine start sequence initiated by a non-certificated individual while the aircraft was still on the ground without adequate restraint or pilot control.
Probable cause
The owner, who was not a certificated pilot, started the right engine while the airplane was parked, leading to an uncontrolled roll after the chock was removed.