No fatalities

25 Feb 2012: PIPER PA-22-135 — Hebron, NE

Hebron, NE, United States

On 25 Feb 2012, a PIPER PA-22-135 was involved in an aviation accident near Hebron, NE. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot’s did not properly secure the airplane prior to rotating the propeller by hand, resulting in inadvertent movement of the airplane and collision with a building. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 12 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

SourcesNTSBPrimary reportUpdated 1778583330Data APIEditorial standards

A pilot attempted a hand start after the electric starter failed, but the parking brake did not hold, causing the airplane to roll into a building.

Incident Overview

The pilot of an airplane reported difficulty starting the engine using the electric starter and opted to hand start the aircraft. After the engine started, the parking brake failed to hold, and the airplane began to roll forward. The pilot was unable to open the door to reduce the throttle setting, and the airplane subsequently struck a building.

Damage

The accident resulted in substantial damage to the airplane's left wing, fuselage structure near the firewall, and the engine mount structure.

Pilot's Account

According to the pilot, the electric starter was unresponsive, prompting the decision to hand start. Once the engine ignited, the parking brake did not keep the airplane stationary. The pilot's attempts to open the door and reduce power were unsuccessful as the airplane rolled into the building.

Contributing factors

PilotIncorrect use/operation