N57HR

On June 14, 1999, at 1500 central daylight time (cdt), a Russell Sport Trainer, N57HR, contacted the pilot and airport hangars, while being hand propped at a Bil-Lo Field, in Ft. Calhoun, Nebraska. The private pilot received minor injuries. The airplane was substantially damaged. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The pilot was starting the airplane with the intention of making a local flight.

The pilot stated the airplane was parked facing east with buildings on both the north and south side of it. He chocked the left wheel of the airplane and attempted to start the engine. He reported, "After four attempts at pulling the prop to start it, I decided the engine was flooded. I went to the cab and shut off the magnetos and opened the throttle. I then went to the front of the plane and reversed the direction of the pull of the prop hoping to drain the engine. After completing the four pulls in the opposite direction I went to the cab of the plane and turned the magnetos back on and failed to shut the throttle down." The pilot once again pulled the propeller through and the engine started. The airplane turned to the north and traveled approximately 50 feet prior to contacting a hangar and coming to a stop.

The pilot reported, "There were two mistakes: (1) I should have had both wheels chalked and (2) I should have remembered to shut down the throttle when I went back for the second attempt to start the engine."