Summary
On March 29, 2021, a Luscombe 8A (N28461) was involved in an incident near Port Townsend, WA. All 1 person aboard were uninjured. The aircraft sustained substantial damage.
The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this incident to be: The pilot’s inadequate engine hand propping procedure which resulted in the airplane’s unexpected movement and subsequent impact with a fueling station.
The pilot reported that after refueling his airplane, that was chocked, with the parking brake set, he attempted to hand prop the engine. After the engine started and while he was walking around the back of the airplane, the engine’s rpm began to increase, and the airplane began to pivot about 90° on the left wheel. When the airplane bypassed the wheel chock, it then rolled towards a fuel station. Shortly thereafter, the airplane impacted the fuel station, which resulted in substantial damage to the right-wing strut. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation.
This incident is documented in NTSB report WPR21LA149. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N28461.
Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
The pilot’s inadequate engine hand propping procedure which resulted in the airplane’s unexpected movement and subsequent impact with a fueling station.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Current)
Analysis
The pilot reported that after refueling his airplane, that was chocked, with the parking brake set, he attempted to hand prop the engine. After the engine started and while he was walking around the back of the airplane, the engine’s rpm began to increase, and the airplane began to pivot about 90° on the left wheel. When the airplane bypassed the wheel chock, it then rolled towards a fuel station. Shortly thereafter, the airplane impacted the fuel station, which resulted in substantial damage to the right-wing strut. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation.
The Federal Aviation Administration's Airplane Flying Handbook, FAA-H-8083-3A, contains a section under the Ground Operations chapter titled "Hand Propping" which states in part: “It is critical that the procedure is never attempted alone. Hand propping should only be attempted when two properly trained people, both familiar and experienced with the airplane hand propping techniques, are available to perform the procedure.’
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# WPR21LA149