What happened
On September 6, 2012, at 11:25 local time, a Mooney M20K, registration F-GCJB, was being prepared for a flight from Lille Lesquin to Ajaccio. The pilot, who was a co-owner of the aircraft, was accompanied by three passengers. Due to a delay in the passengers' arrival, the pilot attempted to save time by performing several cockpit checks and preparations simultaneously with the engine start to preheat the engine.
During this process, the aircraft suddenly moved forward and veered to the left, resulting in a collision with a hangar. The aircraft sustained heavy damage.
The investigation
Investigators examined the aircraft and identified several critical discrepancies in the cockpit configuration. Although the parking brake lever was set to the applied position, the pilot's seat was adjusted in a manner that prevented the pilot from reaching the rudder pedals to apply the brakes.
Furthermore, the investigation found that the throttle position was 1.5 cm from the idle position, whereas the aircraft's flight manual specifies a position of 1 cm for engine starting. The pilot, aged 57, had a total of 698 flight hours, including 36 hours on this specific type.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was an incomplete cockpit preparation prior to engine start.
- The improper seat adjustment meant the pilot was unable to utilize the toe brakes to control the aircraft's movement.
- The pilot's desire to compensate for the passengers' delay by skipping or multitasking procedures contributed to the event.