What happened
The incident began when the pilot encountered a low battery situation while preparing the aircraft for operation. Unable to utilize the standard electrical starting method, the pilot elected to hand-prop the airplane to initiate the engine. Once the engine successfully started, the aircraft immediately began to move without pilot control. The plane rolled approximately 100 feet across the tarmac before colliding with a nearby hangar.
The pilot was unable to gain access to the aircraft in time to prevent the impact. Post-incident examination revealed that the parking brake had not been properly set prior to the start attempt. Additionally, the wheels were not chocked, which would have provided additional restraint against unintended movement during the hand-prop procedure.
The investigation
Investigation of the event focused on the sequence of events leading to the uncontrolled roll. Key findings indicated that the parking brake was not engaged correctly before the engine start attempt. The absence of wheel chocks further contributed to the aircraft's ability to move freely across the surface.
Findings
Contributing factors to this accident included the improper setting of the parking brake and the failure to use wheel chocks during a hand-prop start. These oversights allowed the aircraft to roll uncontrollably after engine ignition, leading directly to the collision with the hangar structure.