Accident Details
A pilot was struck by the propeller while attempting to start an airplane's engine by hand-propping. The accident occurred during hours of darkness on a moist surface with an outside air temperature of 1 degree Celsius, in a refueling area.
Sequence of Events
The pilot initially started the engine using the electric starter, but the engine stopped shortly afterward. After several more attempts with the electric starter, the pilot then tried to start the engine by hand-propping. The aircraft's brake was set, but the nose wheel was chocked only from behind; none of the wheels were chocked in front. The engine started briefly, and during that time the pilot was struck by the propeller. Following the accident, the nose wheel aft chock was observed resting up against and behind the nose wheel.
Pilot Experience
The pilot had accumulated approximately 5,000 hours of flight experience and had been seen hand-propping the airplane on other occasions.
Environmental Conditions
The accident took place in darkness, on a moist ground surface, with an outside air temperature of 1 degree Celsius. The location was a refueling area.