What happened
On 20 August 1999, a Piper PA-28-180, registration G-BASJ, was being prepared for a private flight at Bristol (Lulsgate) Airport. The pilot had positioned the aircraft on a slight incline, using the nosewheel turned to the left to prevent the plane from rolling backward before the parking brake was engaged. Following external inspections and the boarding of a passenger, the pilot intended to taxi away from a nearby helicopter that had been moved into a position close to the aircraft's right side.
During the engine start sequence, the pilot applied power to the engine. This application of power was more sudden than intended, causing the aircraft to veer toward the left. Before the pilot could apply corrective rudder, the right wing of the Piper PA-28-180 struck the wing of another aircraft parked closely on the left side. There were no injuries to the pilot or the passenger, though the aircraft sustained minor damage to the underside of its right wing.
The investigation
The investigation was based on the aircraft accident report submitted by the pilot. The inquiry examined the positioning of the aircraft, the movement of nearby ground traffic, and the specific sequence of the engine start and taxi maneuver. The investigation established that the aircraft was parked in close proximity to other aircraft and that a helicopter had been moved into a position near the aircraft's right side shortly before the incident.