What happened
On June 19, 2021, a Piper PA-11, registration LV-YQF, was involved in an aircraft excursion at the Ezpeleta Aerodrome in Buenos Aires. The aircraft, owned by Aeroclub Río de La Plata, was being used for a general aviation training flight. During taxi toward runway 15, the engine stalled following a reduction in power.
Because the pilot was alone at the time, they exited the cockpit to attempt a manual engine restart. After several attempts, the engine successfully ignited. However, the aircraft began to move before the pilot could re-enter the cockpit. The aircraft subsequently crossed the runway, breached the airfield's perimeter fence, and came to a stop after impacting a ditch. There were no injuries to the pilot, and the aircraft sustained significant damage.
The investigation
The investigation examined the procedures used during the engine start and the pilot's experience level. The pilot, who had approximately 9.3 hours of flight time since obtaining their private license, had not previously practiced solo engine starts during their training.
Investigators found that the pilot had placed wooden chocks on only one of the main landing gear wheels to prevent movement. While the aircraft's flight manual requires chocking the wheels, it does not specify technical requirements for the chocks themselves. Furthermore, the investigation revealed that the throttle was set to approximately one-third of its maximum travel, significantly exceeding the flight manual's recommendation of one-tenth travel for starting the engine.
Findings
- The engine stalled during taxi due to a power reduction.
- The pilot attempted a solo engine start because no ground assistance was available.
- The use of wooden chocks on only a single wheel, combined with excessive throttle opening, allowed the aircraft to overcome the chocks and begin moving.
- The pilot was unable to board the aircraft before it began its uncontrolled taxi.
- The pilot lacked prior experience in performing manual starts without external assistance.