Aircraft and Flight Details
The aircraft involved was an EV-97 TeamEurostar UK, registration G-CDOA, manufactured in 2005. It was powered by a single Rotax 912-UL piston engine. The flight was a private operation with only the pilot on board. The pilot held a National Private Pilot's Licence and had a total of 170 flying hours, including 1 hour on the accident type. The accident occurred on 12 December 2010 at 0939 UTC at City Airport (Manchester Barton), Manchester.
Accident Narrative
According to the pilot's report, while using the checklist to start the engine of an unfamiliar aircraft parked outside open hangar doors, the pilot moved the throttle fully forward in the mistaken belief that this was the closed position. At the appropriate point in the checklist, the pilot pressed the starter button, causing the engine to start and immediately go to full power. The aircraft lurched forward. The pilot depressed the toe brakes, and the aircraft turned sharply to the left. Before the pilot could reach the magnetos to switch off the engine, the right wing struck one of the hangar doors. The aircraft rotated around the door, and the left wing struck another aircraft that was parked inside the hangar. The engine then stopped. The pilot, who was shaken but unhurt, switched off the magnetos and battery and vacated the aircraft normally. No fire occurred. Damage was sustained to the fuselage, both wings, engine frame, propeller, the hangar door, and the parked empty microlight.
Pilot's Conclusion
The pilot concluded that the accident resulted from his rush to start the engine in cold weather conditions. He considered that he should have taken more time to familiarise himself with the controls before starting the engine.