On 15 Dec 2012, a PIPER PA28R 180 operated by Rick Aviation, Inc was involved in an aviation accident near Newport News, VA. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot’s failure to properly monitor the flight controls (toe brake pedals) during engine start. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 12 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.
During engine start, the airplane accelerated and rolled forward. The pilot tried to stop with toe brakes and rudder pedals but they were unresponsive. He shut down the engine, but the airplane impacted a hangar. Postaccident examination found no anomalies; the pilot likely pressed the torque tube assembly.
What Happened
The pilot started the engine with his feet positioned on the toe brake pedals. After starting, the engine accelerated to a higher rpm than expected, and the airplane began to roll forward. The pilot pressed down with his feet, but the airplane continued to roll. He then reduced the throttle to idle and attempted to steer the airplane using the rudder pedals, but they were fixed and would not move. As the airplane approached a hangar, the pilot shut down the engine with the fuel mixture control and turned the magneto switch off. The airplane subsequently impacted the hangar, resulting in substantial damage to both wings.
Postaccident Examination
A Federal Aviation Administration inspector conducted a postaccident examination of the airplane. The examination revealed no anomalies in the rudder pedal or toe brake systems. The pilot later offered that he inadvertently pressed on the torque tube assembly, which is part of the airframe structure located above the toe brake pedals.