What happened
On September 28, 2011, at approximately 12:35 UTC, a Cirrus SR22, registration PR-INC, was preparing for a private flight from Santa Genoveva Aerodrome (SBGO) in Goiânia, Brazil, to Brasília (SBBR). During the pre-flight inspection, the pilot attempted to start the engine by manually rotating the propeller by hand after failing to achieve a start using the internal batteries.
During this manual rotation, the engine inadvertently ignited. The aircraft began to move forward under its own power, resulting in a collision with a fuel truck parked on the apron. The impact caused damage to the propeller blades, the right side of the nose fuselage, the nose gear fairing, and the front right section of the engine. There was no fire following the impact. The pilot sustained minor injuries.
The investigation
CENIPA's investigation established that the pilot, while qualified and experienced, performed the engine start in a manner inconsistent with established safety protocols. Witnesses reported that the pilot disembarked to manually swing the propeller because the onboard batteries had failed to start the engine.
Investigators found that the pilot failed to follow the prescribed Pilot's Checklist. Specifically, the "Before Engine Start" procedures were not fully completed, and the "Engine Start" checklist—which requires verifying that the area around the propeller is clear—was ignored. Furthermore, the investigation noted that the pilot's actions violated the aircraft's Flight Manual (AFM) and Operations Manual, as manual propeller swinging is not recommended for this model. The manual also specifies that the battery should be disconnected during certain inspection phases to prevent such occurrences.
Findings
- Failure to follow the Pilot's Checklist, specifically regarding clearing the area around the propeller.
- Inappropriate engine start method, as manual propeller rotation was performed in disagreement with the aircraft's approved flight manual and regulatory standards.
- Inadvertent engine ignition during the manual rotation of the propeller.
- Pilot error involving poor decision-making, judgment, and flight discipline.