N3915T

Substantial
None

PIPER PA28RS/N: 28R-30251

Accident Details

Date
Saturday, December 15, 2012
NTSB Number
ERA13CA091
Location
Newport News, VA
Event ID
20121217X51322
Coordinates
37.131942, -76.493057
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
Highest Injury
None
Fatalities
0
Serious Injuries
0
Minor Injuries
0
Uninjured
1
Total Aboard
1

Probable Cause and Findings

The pilot’s failure to properly monitor the flight controls (toe brake pedals) during engine start.

Aircraft Information

Registration
N3915T
Make
PIPER
Serial Number
28R-30251
Engine Type
Reciprocating
Year Built
1967
Model / ICAO
PA28RP28A
Aircraft Type
Fixed Wing Single Engine
No. of Engines
1

Registered Owner (Historical)

Name
RICK AVIATION INC
Address
902 BLAND BLVD STE D
Status
Deregistered
City
NEWPORT NEWS
State / Zip Code
VA 23602-4506
Country
United States

Analysis

The pilot stated that he positioned his feet on the toe brake pedals during engine start. After starting, the engine accelerated to a higher rpm than expected, and the airplane began to roll forward. The pilot pressed down with his feet, but the airplane continued to roll. After reducing the throttle to idle, the pilot attempted to steer the airplane with the rudder pedals, but stated that they were fixed and would not move. As the airplane neared a hangar, the pilot shut down the engine with the fuel mixture control and turned the magneto switch off. The airplane then impacted the hangar, resulting in substantial damage to both wings. Postaccident examination by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed no anomalies of the rudder pedal or toe brake systems. The pilot offered that he inadvertently pressed on the torque tube assembly, which was part of the airframe structure located above the toe brake pedals.

Data Source

Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# ERA13CA091