What happened
On 7 August 1999, a Piper PA-23-250, registration G-KEYS, was involved in a ground incident at Isle of Man Airport during a private flight. While the pilot was preparing the aircraft for departure, a baggage trolley was positioned in the left nose area to assist with the loading process. Upon starting the left engine, the propeller made contact with the trolley.
Following the impact, the pilot immediately shut down the engine. All four occupants—the pilot and three passengers—were able to exit the aircraft through the standard door without injury. The incident resulted in no fatalities or injuries, though the left propeller sustained damage, specifically with both blades becoming chipped and distorted.
The investigation
An investigation into the event established that the baggage trolley had been left in the vicinity of the aircraft's nose following loading operations. The investigation found that the trolley was positioned in a location that was not visible to the pilot from the cockpit during the engine start sequence.