AN ACR LTT CAPT BEGAN THE L ENG START PROCESS WITH PAX STANDING IN FRONT OF THE PROP.

Narrative

I INADVERTENTLY INDUCED THE L STARTER SWITCH WHILE PAX WERE BOARDING THAT SIDE OF THE ACFT. THE ACFT HAD BEEN SITTING ON THE RAMP 2 1/2 HRS AND BECAME VERY HOT. THE GATE AGENT BEGAN TO SEND THE PAX TO THE PLANE APPROX 10 MINS PRIOR TO DEP. MY FO WAS ASSISTING THE PAX WITH THEIR CARRY-ON BAGS AND AIDING THEM ON TO THE PLANE. I WAS THINKING OF HOW HOT THE PLANE WAS AND HOW HOT THE PAX WERE THAT BOARDED FIRST AND THAT WERE ON THE PLANE THE LONGEST. ONCE APPROX 14 PAX WERE ON BOARD AND APPROX 3 PAX WERE STANDING IN LINE TO GET ON; I SIGNALED TO THE GND CREW PERSONNEL TO START ENG #2. I BELIEVE 1 PERSON WAS STANDING ON THE AIR STAIR DOOR AND 2 PAX WERE WAITING TO STEP ONTO IT. THEY WERE JUST IN FRONT OF THE #1 ENG. I WAS SIGNALED TO START ENG #2 AND INADVERTENTLY LIFTED THE START SWITCH TO THE #1 ENG. ONCE STARTER ENGAGED; I KNEW SOMETHING SOUNDED DIFFERENT. I LOOKED AT THE #1 AND SAW THE THE R #1 WAS STILL READING 0. JUST THEN I HEARD MY FO YELL MY NAME AND I HAD REALIZED WHAT I'D DONE THEN I IMMEDIATELY DISENGAGED THE L STARTER.