Incident Overview
On May 18, 2024, at 15:05 UTC, an accident occurred at the Aeródromo General Pico in La Pampa province, Argentina. The event involved a Piper PA-28-181 with registration LV-ODF, owned by the Aeroclub de General Pico, and a second aircraft with registration LV-BGT. The operation was classified as general aviation recreation.
Sequence of Events
The pilot of the LV-ODF attempted to start the engine for a local recreational flight but failed to achieve ignition. Following standard procedure, the pilot set the master switch to OFF and applied the parking brake before exiting the cabin to inspect the issue. However, the magneto switch was not turned off. Upon the suggestion of a mechanic present at the scene, the pilot manually rotated the propeller. This action inadvertently started the engine.
With the engine running and no control input, the aircraft began to move uncontrolled across the apron. It traveled approximately 25 meters before colliding with the stationary LV-BGT, which was unoccupied at the time. The passenger of the LV-ODF exited the aircraft independently without sustaining injuries.
Damage and Investigation Findings
The collision resulted in significant damage to the airframe of the LV-BGT. The LV-ODF sustained minor airframe damage, along with potential engine and propeller damage due to the abrupt stop. The investigation noted that the aircraft's manual does not include procedures for manual engine starting. The pilot held a valid Private Pilot License and had 57.5 total flight hours, including 12.9 hours on type.