Monday, September 10, 2018

Cirrus SR22, N669HT: Accident occurred September 08, 2018 at Mason City Municipal Airport (KMCW), Cerro Gordo County, Iowa

Additional Participating Entity:
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Des Moines, Iowa

Aviation Accident Final Report - National Transportation Safety Board: https://app.ntsb.gov/pdf


Investigation Docket - National Transportation Safety Board: https://dms.ntsb.gov/pubdms


https://registry.faa.gov/N669HT



Location: Mason City, IA
Accident Number: GAA18CA545
Date & Time: 09/08/2018, 1145 CDT
Registration: N669HT
Aircraft: Cirrus SR22
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Defining Event: Loss of control on ground
Injuries: 2 Minor
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation - Personal 

Analysis

The pilot reported that the battery was too low to start the engine, so he asked fixed-base operator personnel if they could assist with a jumper pack. They told him that they did not have anyone on duty authorized to assist and that he would have to wait a couple of days. He decided to start the engine by hand propping. Before he began hand propping, he set the parking brake. Following the engine start, the airplane began to move forward. The pilot attempted to re-enter the airplane to apply the brakes, but the airplane struck a hangar.

The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing.

The Federal Aviation Administration inspector who examined the airplane after the accident reported that the parking brake functioned normally. He added that the pilot stated that he was sure he set the brakes but that he may not have gotten enough pressure to hold the airplane.

The Federal Aviation Administration's Airplane Flying Handbook, FAA-H-8083-3A, contained a section titled "Hand Propping" which states the following:

An engine should not be hand propped unless two people, both familiar with the airplane and hand propping techniques, are available to perform the procedure. The person pulling the propeller blades through directs all activity and is in charge of the procedure. The other person, thoroughly familiar with the controls, must be seated in the airplane with the brakes set. As an additional precaution, chocks may be placed in front of the main wheels. If this is not feasible, the airplane's tail may be securely tied. Never allow a person unfamiliar with the controls to occupy the pilot's seat when hand propping. The procedure should never be attempted alone.

Probable Cause and Findings

The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be:
The pilot's improper hand propping procedure, which resulted in a runaway airplane and subsequent impact with a hangar.

Findings

Aircraft
Battery/charger - Not serviced/maintained

Personnel issues
Aircraft control - Pilot (Cause)

Environmental issues
Airport structure - Effect on operation (Cause)

Factual Information

History of Flight

Standing-engine(s) start-up
Electrical system malf/failure
Loss of control on ground (Defining event)
Attempted remediation/recovery
Ground collision

Pilot Information

Certificate: Private
Age: 39, Male
Airplane Rating(s): Single-engine Land
Seat Occupied: Left
Other Aircraft Rating(s): None
Restraint Used: None
Instrument Rating(s): Airplane
Second Pilot Present: No
Instructor Rating(s): None
Toxicology Performed: No
Medical Certification: Class 3 Without Waivers/Limitations
Last FAA Medical Exam: 07/01/2014
Occupational Pilot: No
Last Flight Review or Equivalent: 06/13/2018
Flight Time:  (Estimated) 373 hours (Total, all aircraft), 373 hours (Total, this make and model)

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information


Aircraft Make: Cirrus
Registration: N669HT
Model/Series: SR22 Undesignated
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Year of Manufacture: 2005
Amateur Built: No
Airworthiness Certificate: Normal
Serial Number: 1679
Landing Gear Type: Tricycle
Seats: 4
Date/Type of Last Inspection:  Annual
Certified Max Gross Wt.: 3120 lbs
Time Since Last Inspection:
Engines: 1 Reciprocating
Airframe Total Time: 845 Hours
Engine Manufacturer: Continental
ELT: Installed, activated, did not aid in locating accident
Engine Model/Series: IO-550
Registered Owner: Minn Iowa Distributing Inc
Rated Power: 310 hp
Operator: On file
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan

Conditions at Accident Site: Visual Conditions
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: KMCW, 1225 ft msl
Distance from Accident Site: 0 Nautical Miles
Observation Time: 1653 UTC
Direction from Accident Site: 82°
Lowest Cloud Condition: Clear
Visibility:  10 Miles
Lowest Ceiling: None
Visibility (RVR):
Wind Speed/Gusts: 9 knots / 18 knots
Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual: None / None
Wind Direction: 90°
Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual: N/A / N/A
Altimeter Setting: 30.25 inches Hg
Temperature/Dew Point: 20°C / 12°C
Precipitation and Obscuration: No Obscuration; No Precipitation
Departure Point: Mason City, IA (MCW)
Type of Flight Plan Filed: Unknown
Destination:
Type of Clearance: None
Departure Time:  CDT
Type of Airspace: Class E

Airport Information


Airport: MASON CITY MUNI (MCW)
Runway Surface Type: Asphalt
Airport Elevation: 1213 ft
Runway Surface Condition: Dry
Runway Used: N/A
IFR Approach: None
Runway Length/Width:
VFR Approach/Landing: None

Wreckage and Impact Information


Crew Injuries: 1 Minor
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries: 1 Minor
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 2 Minor
Latitude, Longitude:  43.153056, -93.336111 (est)

8 comments:

  1. YouTube video footage of the runaway plane after the failed hand-prop.
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7KpOg9Ci284

    ReplyDelete
  2. Judging by the spinning prop and rapidly accelerating plane, I think hand propping succeeded.

    ReplyDelete
  3. NTSB needs to change their wording to:
    NTSB investigators will use data provided by various entities, including, but not limited to, the Federal Aviation Administration and/or the operator, Social Media including but not limited to Facebook, Instagram, Youtube, Google, and will not travel in support of this investigation to prepare this aircraft accident report.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Surprised he didn't pop the chute....

    ReplyDelete
  5. I guess that postponing the flight in order the charge the battery was clearly out of the question.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Wow.

    So lucky that's all that happened. Hand propping a 300 hp airplane with poor procedures (second person not at the controls, judging by the way the person played Jack-in-the-Box when it fired up).

    Then the guy ran in FRONT of the plane trying to get in to stop it.

    Wow.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Girlfriend Amanda was seated in the passengers' seat. Must have been one helluva wild ride for girlfriend Amanada, she jumped out of the fast moving Cirrus.

    "On or about 11 :45 AM on September 8, 2018 at the Mason City Airport, my girlfriend (Amanda Lampman) and I pulled out my 2005 Cirrus SR22 from a rented hangar. I preflighted the airplane and did a weather check for a VFR flight to Omaha, NE. Once everything was
    loaded and secure I tried to fire the engine, but the battery was too low to crank over quickly enough to start. I shut down all the electronics and called the FBO to ask if they could assist me with a jumper pack. The person on duty did not know of any jumper pack
    and was not authorized to use one if it was available. He told me it would be Monday until I was able to get any assistance.

    Having hand propped my aircraft before, I decided to go that route. I entered to cockpit, turned on the mag switch, put the throttle into the start position, put mixture to full rich, engaged to boost pump and lastly set the parking brake.

    Amanda stayed in the passenger's seat and both doors were open. I hand propped the engine and on the 3rd time it started. Once it started I was shocked when the airplane started moving forward. Instead of going around the wing I slid up on it from the front side but the door had closed on me at the same time. Now riding on the wing I began trying to get the door open to kill engine and apply the foot brakes.

    As the airplane picked up more speed I struggled to hold the door open and get in the airplane at the same time. I was finally able to dive in headfirst and hit the throttle and mixture lever. This was about the same time the airplane struck an open hangar.

    After impact I shut down all systems I could think of and exited the airplane. I had realized Amanda was not in the passenger's seat and later found out she had jumped out of the airplane after seeing my door shut as she thought I had fallen off the wing.

    Seeing I was bleeding from a couple of puncture wounds to my face, my girlfriend loaded me into the car and took me to the emergency room in Mason City. On the ride to the ER, I contacted the FBO and made them aware of the situation. I also called my father to have
    him come to the airport and assist getting the airplane put back in the hangar."

    ReplyDelete
  8. Amanda was lucky not to find out what her boyfriend looked like sprayed all over a pretty plane.

    ReplyDelete