Incident Summary
A pilot reported that after refueling an airplane equipped with wheel chocks and the parking brake set, an attempt was made to hand prop the engine. Following engine start, the pilot walked around the back of the airplane when the engine's rpm began to increase. The airplane then pivoted approximately 90 degrees on the left wheel, bypassed the wheel chock, and rolled toward a fuel station. Subsequently, the airplane impacted the fuel station, resulting in substantial damage to the right-wing strut.
Sequence of Events
The pilot stated that the airplane was chocked and the parking brake was engaged before the hand-propping attempt. After the engine started, the pilot began walking around the rear of the airplane. During this time, the engine's revolutions per minute increased, causing the airplane to rotate on its left wheel. Once the airplane cleared the wheel chock, it continued rolling forward and struck the fuel station. The impact damaged the right-wing strut significantly.
Pilot Report
The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot did not specify any other contributing factors.
Safety Information
The Federal Aviation Administration's Airplane Flying Handbook (FAA-H-8083-3A), in the Ground Operations chapter under the section titled "Hand Propping," states in part: "It is critical that the procedure is never attempted alone. Hand propping should only be attempted when two properly trained people, both familiar and experienced with the airplane hand propping techniques, are available to perform the procedure."