What happened
The incident occurred when the pilot decided to exit the airplane to manually rotate the propeller because the engine starter motor would not engage. The operator had neglected to chock or tie down the aircraft, and the magneto switch was left in the on position. As a result, the engine started unexpectedly while two passengers remained seated in the rear of the cabin. The pilot was unable to board the airplane before it began taxiing uncontrollably and struck another parked aircraft on the ramp.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the mechanical state of the aircraft at the time of the incident. Key findings included the failure of the engine starter motor to engage, which prompted the manual propeller rotation attempt. Investigators noted that the magneto switch was active and that no physical restraints such as chocks or tie-downs were in place to prevent movement.
Findings
The primary causal factor was the unintended engine start during a manual propeller rotation procedure. Contributing factors included the failure of the starter motor, the magneto switch being left on, and the lack of chocking or tying down the aircraft. The presence of passengers in the rear seats further complicated the situation as the pilot could not immediately re-enter the cockpit to stop the movement.
Safety message
Pilots should ensure that aircraft are properly secured with chocks and tie-downs before exiting, especially when performing maintenance or troubleshooting engine start issues. Always verify that the magneto switch is off before attempting to hand-prop an engine.