AERONCA CHAMPION 7AC PLT LOST CTL OF ACFT STARTING THE ENG BY HAND PROPPING RESULTING IN THE ACFT COLLIDING WITH A PARKED PIPER ARROW. THE L WING OF THE AERONCA AND THE SPINNER OF THE PIPER SUSTAINED MINOR DAMAGE.

Narrative

I WAS INVOLVED IN A STARTING INCIDENT WHILE HAND PROPPING AN AERONCA 7AC. THERE WAS ANOTHER RATED PLT IN THE ACFT WHO HAS EXPERIENCE FLYING THIS MAKE AND MODEL OF ACFT. ONCE THE ENG WAS STARTED; I NOTICED THAT THE ENG WAS RUNNING AT ABOVE IDLE RPM. THE ACFT THEN BEGAN TO ROLL. I MOVED OUT OF THE WAY OF THE ACFT AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE AND WAS LATER INFORMED THAT THE PROP HAD COME WITHIN 2 FT OF HITTING ME. I RAN TOWARDS THE R WING OF THE ACFT AND NOTICED THAT THE ACFT WAS HDG FOR THE ABOVE GND FUEL TANK. I THEREFORE GRASPED THE TOP OF THE R WING STRUT AND FORCED THE ACFT TO MAKE A HARD R TURN. THE L WING STRUT OF THE ACFT THEN IMPACTED THE SPINNER ON A PIPER ARROW. NO PEOPLE WERE HURT IN THIS INCIDENT. AFTER THE ACFT WAS SECURED; I AND THE OTHER PLT NOTICED THAT THE CABLE HOUSING FOR THE L BRAKE HAD 'SLIPPED;' CAUSING A L BRAKE PEDAL ACTUATION TO BE INEFFECTIVE. WHILE I AM HAPPY THAT NO ONE WAS HURT; THERE WERE SOME FACTORS THAT COULD HAVE PREVENTED THIS INCIDENT FROM OCCURRING. FIRST; THE ACFT'S WHEELS SHOULD HAVE HAD CHOCKS ON THEM. SECONDLY; THE ACFT SHOULD HAVE BEEN MOVED TO A LESS CONGESTED AREA ON THE RAMP WHILE STARTING.