PLT HAND PROPPED A SINGLE ENG ACFT WITH A NON PILOT AT THE CTLS. ENG PWR INCREASED AFTER ENG START; AND THE ACFT ROLLED FORWARD; COLLIDING WITH A PARKED ACFT.

Narrative

THE PLT WAS GOING TO FLY A 65 HP TAILDRAGGER WITH NO ELECTRICAL SYS AND NO STARTING SYS. IT REQUIRES THE PLT TO HAND PROP THE ENG; AND EITHER REQUIRES THE ACFT TO BE TIED DOWN; OR REQUIRES THE PAX TO HOLD THE BRAKES. THE PAX OF THIS FLT WAS THE PLT'S WIFE; AND WHILE SHE WAS NOT A PLT; SHE HAD A LOT OF EXPERIENCE WITH COMPLEX FARM MACHINERY. THE PLT INSTRUCTED THE PAX HOW TO HOLD THE (HEEL) BRAKES; AND HOW TO PULL THE THROTTLE TO IDLE AFTER ENG START. BOTH HOLDING THE BRAKES AND PULLING THE THROTTLE TO IDLE HAD BEEN PRACTICED AND WITNESSED BY THE PLT. THE PAX WAS IN THE REAR SEAT; WITH THE SEATBELT FASTENED. AFTER HAND PROPPING THE ENG; THE PLT NOTICED WHAT SOUNDED LIKE AN INCREASE IN RPM ENG NOISE; AND THE ACFT STARTED TO MOVE FORWARD RAPIDLY. THE PLT GOT OUT OF THE WAY OF THE NOW MOVING ACFT AROUND TO THE DOOR; AND 1/2 WAY INSIDE THE ACFT; GETTING THE ENG TO IDLE WHILE TELLING THE PAX TO PUSH THE BRAKES; WHEN THE ACFT STRUCK A PARKED CESSNA 172. THE ACFT HIT NOSE-TO-NOSE; AND STOPPED NOSE-TO-NOSE. NO OTHER PARTS OF THE ACFT COLLIDED. THE ACFT HAD TRAVELED APPROX 25 YARDS ACROSS THE TARMAC. BOTH PAX AND PLT WERE UNHURT; AND THERE WAS NOBODY ELSE ON THE RAMP; SO THERE WERE NO OTHER INJURIES. THE PAX WAS QUITE UPSET AND HAS BEEN UNABLE TO RECOLLECT WHAT HER ACTIONS HAD BEEN. OBVIOUS INITIAL DAMAGE IS THE ENG AND PROP ON BOTH ACFT; AND SOME COWLING DAMAGE TO MY ACFT. THE PLT INCORRECTLY ASSUMED THAT HIS WIFE WOULD BE ABLE TO HOLD THE BRAKES AFTER ENG START; AND PLACED TOO MUCH CONFIDENCE IN THE ABILITIES OF A NON-PLT. REGARDLESS IF THE PAX IS A PLT OR NOT; THE PERSON HAND-STARTING A PLANE IS COUNTING ON THAT PERSON TO REACT CORRECTLY; THE BRAKES TO FUNCTION PROPERLY; AND THE THROTTLE TO BE RESPONSIVE. THE VERY ACT OF HAND-PROPPING AN ACFT IS DANGEROUS; AND THIS PLT WILL NEVER AGAIN PULL THE PROP THROUGH WITHOUT THE ACFT BEING TIED DOWN. EVEN IF THE MAGNETOS AND FUEL ARE OFF; ACCIDENTS CAN AND DO STILL OCCUR (BASED ON SIMILAR STORIES FROM OTHER PLTS SINCE THE INCIDENT). EVEN 65 HP IS ENOUGH TO OVERPWR THE PERSON STARTING THE ENG.