Incident Overview
On 5 March 1998 at 1040 hrs UTC, a Piper PA-38-112, registration G-BSOU, was involved in an incident at Cumbernauld Airport, Glasgow, resulting in damage to multiple parked aircraft. The aircraft, manufactured in 1981, was operated on a private flight with a single pilot and no passengers. The pilot held a Private Pilot's Licence with an IMC Rating and had accumulated 227 flight hours, of which 155 were on the type. In the preceding 90 days, the pilot had flown 5 hours, with no flying in the last 28 days.
Sequence of Events
After refueling at the pumps, the aircraft was pushed back. The engine was started with the tail of the aircraft pointing toward the open doors of an adjacent hangar. A ground handler alerted the pilot to the propeller wash entering the hangar. The pilot then taxied the aircraft to holding point Bravo with the intention of conducting power checks. He positioned the aircraft into the westerly wind but with the tail directly aligned with a number of aircraft parked in a row close behind.
As the pilot opened the throttle, the increased airflow from the propeller caused a cowling to become detached from an adjacent Socata TB 10. The cowling, as it passed over the fuselage, struck an aerial, which broke off. Additionally, a Piper Cub, which was the fourth aircraft in the row, was blown backwards into an Islander.
Aircraft and Pilot Information
The aircraft was a single-engine Piper PA-38-112 powered by one Lycoming O-235-L2C piston engine. The pilot, aged 38, was the sole occupant. No injuries were reported.
Damage
The incident resulted in damage to the Socata TB 10 (detached cowling and broken aerial), the Piper Cub, and the Islander. The specific extent of damage to each aircraft is not detailed in the source.
Aftermath
The pilot was advised by Cumbernauld Information of the damage being caused and was told that the threshold of Runway 26 was available for him to complete his power check.