N4699H

Substantial
Minor

PIPER PA17S/N: 17-97

Accident Details

Date
Sunday, April 11, 2010
NTSB Number
ERA10CA224
Location
Louisburg, NC
Event ID
20100412X32355
Coordinates
36.023334, -78.330001
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
Highest Injury
Minor
Fatalities
0
Serious Injuries
0
Minor Injuries
1
Uninjured
0
Total Aboard
1

Probable Cause and Findings

The pilot's failure to properly secure the airplane before attempting to hand-prop the engine.

Aircraft Information

Registration
N4699H
Make
PIPER
Serial Number
17-97
Engine Type
Reciprocating
Model / ICAO
PA17PA17
Aircraft Type
Fixed Wing Single Engine
No. of Engines
1

Analysis

The pilot stated that the airplane was tied down on the right side, and the right main landing gear wheel was chocked. After hand-propping the engine, the airplane's tie-down rope "came loose," and the airplane "veered" into an adjacent hangar. The right wing sustained substantial damage. The pilot stated that the accident could have been prevented by "using a better quality tie-down rope, having a second pilot in the airplane holding the brakes, or by having both wheels chocked instead of just one."

Data Source

Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# ERA10CA224