What happened
On 7 October 2006, a Tipsy Nipper T.66 Series 2, registration G-ARBP, was involved in a ground accident at Seighford Airfield, Staffordshire. Following recent engine maintenance, the pilot had moved the aircraft to a disused area of the airfield to perform an engine run. The aircraft was parked with the brakes applied and the main wheels secured with chocks.
To start the engine, which requires hand-swinging the propeller, the pilot had utilized a 'peg' to secure the throttle at approximately 1,200 rpm. After the pilot placed a map in a nearby stowage compartment, the engine was started. Upon ignition, the aircraft began to move forward, displacing the wheel chert. The aircraft continued to travel until it struck a fence post and tree branches, causing damage to the propeller and the leading edges of both wings. The pilot sustained no injuries.
The investigation
The investigation examined the conditions of the airfield and the cockpit configuration at the time of the incident. It was noted that heavy rainfall the previous evening had left the area where the aircraft was parked wet and contaminated with mud and moss. The investigation also looked into the possibility of accidental movement of the throttle lever during the pilot's actions in the cockpit.