What happened
On 9 October 2008, a Piper PA-28-180 Cherokee, registration G-ATTX, was involved in a ground accident at Earls Colne Airfield, Essex. The pilot and one passenger were preparing for a private flight to Popham Airfield. After moving the aircraft to the fuel pumps and completing refuelling, the pilot manually pushed the aircraft approximately 30 metres to a parking position near the main hangar. The aircraft was positioned with the nosewheel chocked, but the parking brake was left in the released position.
During the pre-engine start sequence, the pilot performed checks using a printed checklist. Although the checklist included an instruction to ensure the brakes were set to the ON position, this specific action was not performed. Upon starting the engine, the aircraft began to accelerate forward. The pilot attempted to stop the movement by pressing the rudder pedals, but because the aircraft was not equipped with toe brakes, this action was ineffective. In a subsequent attempt to reach the hand brake lever, the aircraft struck an airfield mower that was attached to a tractor and parked adjacent to the hangar. There were no injuries to the occupants, though the collision caused damage to the propeller, the nose landing gear, and potential engine shock loading.
The investigation
The investigation examined the pilot's checklist procedures and the aircraft's braking configuration. It was noted that the pilot had significant experience with Cessna 172 aircraft, which utilize toe brakes on the rudder pedals, whereas the Piper PA-28-180 Cherokee uses a single hand lever for both taxiing and parking. The pilot reported that while he was familiar with the lever, its location was not intuitive, requiring him to look for it rather than relying on muscle memory. The investigation also considered the impact of the confined parking area on the pilot's ability to react during the emergency.