Incident Overview
A pilot experienced difficulty starting the engine of his airplane due to a low battery. After refueling at an airport, the battery was too weak to start the engine via the starter. The pilot checked the parking brake, searched for a portable jump starter (which was not onboard), and sought assistance without success. He then adjusted the mixture to full rich, opened the throttle about 10 percent, primed the engine 8 to 10 times, turned the magneto switch to "BOTH", and attempted to hand-prop the engine twice, but it did not start.
Sequence of Events
Assuming the engine was flooded, the pilot set the mixture to idle cutoff, turned off the magnetos, and rechecked the parking brake. He exited the aircraft and, before touching the propeller, visually confirmed that the magneto switch key was not in the "BOTH" position. He then hand-propped the engine. A puff of smoke came from the exhaust, and the engine suddenly accelerated to maximum rpm. The pilot immediately moved from in front of the propeller. Believing the parking brake would hold, he thought, "the brakes are on, don't worry," but then noticed the airplane moving and gaining speed.
Pilot's Actions After Engine Start
The pilot, now in front of the right wing, attempted to grab the door and hop onto the wing to get inside. However, the slipstream from the propeller pushed the door shut, preventing him from getting a grip. He was then dragged and run over by the airplane. The aircraft continued and made contact with a ditch, resulting in substantial damage.
Pilot's Comments
The pilot noted that he had been having problems with the battery holding a charge and acknowledged he should have replaced it. He also stated that apparently one magneto was still on, and that he should have used chocks and not attempted to hand-prop the airplane by himself.