Synopsis
On 23 June 1999 at 0600 Z, a Grumman G-164A aircraft registered ZS-JEZ was involved in an incident at Burgersdrift. The aircraft was being prepared for a crop spraying detail. The pilot, who was the sole person on board, applied the parking brake and vacated the aircraft while the engine was warming up. The aircraft began to inch forward, and the pilot was unable to stop it before the propeller struck a stationary farm implement, causing damage to the propeller. No other damage was reported, and no injuries occurred. The pilot initially failed to report the incident and knowingly withheld information.
Sequence of Events
The pilot prepared the aircraft for a commercial crop spraying operation. He apparently applied the parking brake and left the aircraft with the engine running. While standing beside the aircraft, he noticed it moving forward. He attempted to stop it but only had time to pull the mixture lever before the propeller contacted a stationary farm implement. The propeller was damaged in the process. The incident was not reported initially; the pilot withheld information but later apologized and cooperated.
Damage and Injuries
The aircraft sustained damage to the propeller. No other damage was reported. There were no injuries; the number of persons on board was one, and the injuries and fatalities are recorded as nil.
Probable Cause
It was not possible to establish whether the park brake had been applied or not but it is regarded as bad practice to vacate an aircraft which is not chocked while the engine is running.