Introduction
On 14 July 2009, a Piper PA-34-200 Seneca, registration G-AZOL, was involved in a ground incident at Stapleford Flying Club in Essex. The aircraft, manufactured in 1971 and powered by two Lycoming IO-360-C1E6 piston engines, was not intended for flight. The sole occupant, the commander, held an Airline Transport Pilot's Licence and had accumulated 11,587 flying hours, of which 4,100 were on type.
Sequence of Events
The aircraft had been parked on a taxiway near the fuel pump, obstructing other aircraft from refuelling. An instructor at the club, who was current on the PA-34, assumed that G-AZOL had been parked there for refuelling and that an engine had likely flooded, making it difficult to start. He climbed into the right seat, visually checked that the parking brake was on, and proceeded to start the right engine. As the engine started, the aircraft began to move forward. The instructor attempted to apply the footbrakes but discovered that they were not fitted to the right pilot's position on this particular aircraft. The aircraft swung to the left, and its right propeller struck the bonnet and radiator grille of a van parked nearby. After shutting down the engine, the instructor checked the parking brake and found that it could be pulled on another notch. The incident resulted in damage to the propeller blades and a dent in the leading edge of the wing. No injuries were reported.
Actions Following the Incident
Following the incident, footbrakes were fitted to the right pilot's position on G-AZOL, bringing it to the same standard as the club's other two PA-34 aircraft, which already had footbrakes in both positions. Additionally, aircraft are no longer permitted to be parked in the area of the fuel pumps, and the airfield reviewed its policy on the parking of vehicles to prevent similar occurrences.