PIPER PA-28R-200 — San Diego, CA, 2012

PIPER PA-28R-200 — San Diego, CA

1 fatal

Date	January 30, 2012
Location	San Diego, CA
Aircraft	PIPER PA-28R-200
Purpose of flight	Personal
Conditions	Day · Visual Meteorological Cond
Phase / occurrence	Standing-engine(s) start-up AC/prop/rotor contact w person
Pilot age	41
Pilot total time	Unknown
Time in type	Unknown
Fatalities	1

Probable cause

The pilot's failure to turn the magneto switch to the off position before moving the propeller to start the engine by hand.

NTSB findings

Aircraft-Aircraft power plant-Ignition system-Switching-Incorrect use/operation - C
Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Use of equip/system-Pilot - C

What happened

The passenger reported that he and the pilot were both seated in the airplane when the pilot made three unsuccessful attempts to start the engine. The pilot told the passenger to “get out, I need to jump it.” The passenger got out of the airplane and was walking away when he heard a noise. When he looked back toward the front of the airplane, he saw the pilot lying on the ground below the propeller. The airplane’s engine was not running. Postaccident examination revealed that the magneto switch was in the both position. It is likely that the pilot moved the propeller, and because the magnetos were in a ready-to-start condition, this resulted in a spark plug firing, which caused the propeller to turn rapidly and strike the pilot.

An editorial "what led to it / how to avoid it" analysis for this accident is generated separately and will appear here.