What happened
On February 11, 2006, a private Beechcraft A23-19 Musketeer, registration EC-BEP, was preparing for a flight from Logroño-La Rioja Airport to San Sebastián. Due to low battery capacity caused by cold winter temperatures, the pilot decided to perform a manual engine start.
During the manual starting procedure, the aircraft began to move slowly across the apron. To prevent a collision with nearby parked aircraft or personnel, the pilot steered the aircraft from the exterior. The movement continued for approximately 55 meters outside the paved area, eventually coming to a halt when the nose gear became lodged in a ditch. There were no injuries to the pilot or the passenger, but the aircraft sustained significant damage, including a broken nose gear, a shattered windshield, a deformed propeller, and structural buckling in the engine compartment.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the procedures used during the manual start. The pilot stated that while he intended to use the parking brake and chocks for safety, he failed to verify that the parking brake was actually engaged. Additionally, the pilot had set the throttle lever above idle to facilitate the engine start.
Review of the flight manual indicated that while manual starting is possible, the manual suggests rotating the propeller by hand to warm the oil before attempting a start, specifically noting that the master switch and magnetos should be disconnected during this preparatory step. The investigation also noted that manual starting is an obsolete practice in modern general aviation and is rarely covered in standard private pilot training.
Findings
- The pilot's decision to perform a manual start was driven by the depleted state of the battery.
- The pilot failed to verify the effectiveness of the parking brake.
- The throttle was set at a power setting above idle, which contributed to the aircraft's movement once the engine ignited.
- The lack of verification of the braking system and the high throttle setting were the primary factors leading to the uncontrolled movement.