What happened
On 7 November 1998, a Morane Saulnier MS.893A, registration G-AXIT, was at Seighford Airfield in Staffordshire prepared for a private flight. The pilot intended to use the aircraft for glider towing duties. Upon attempting to start the engine, the pilot discovered the aircraft battery was depleted, necessitating a manual engine start via propeller hand-swinging.
Prior to the start, the pilot applied the parking brake and secured the main wheels using old tyres as chocks, a method commonly used at the local gliding club. After setting the throttle to approximately one inch open, the pilot attempted to start the engine alone as no assistants were present. Once the engine successfully ignited, it reached a higher RPM than expected. In an attempt to reach the cockpit and reduce the throttle, the pilot ran toward the aircraft. During this movement, the aircraft began rolling forward, causing the pilot to slip and fall to the ground. The aircraft continued moving until it struck a fence, resulting in substantial damage to the propeller and the leading edges of the wings. No injuries were reported.
The investigation
Investigators examined the aircraft's mechanical state and the procedures used during the start sequence. While the pilot initially suspected a failure in the parking brake system, subsequent technical inspections confirmed that the parking brake was fully applied and functioning correctly. The investigation focused on the stability of the aircraft during the manual start process and the adequacy of the improvised chocking method.