Cessna 170A N170TW

Summary

On 12 March 2015 at about 20:50 local time, a Cessna 170A registered N170TW was involved in an accident near Palmetto, Florida, United States. 2 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

12 March 2015 at 20:50

Classification

Accident

Location

Palmetto, Florida, United States

Nearest airport

Airport Manatee (48X)

Coordinates

27.6653, -82.4528

Aircraft

Cessna 170A

Registration

N170TW

Category

Airplane

Year built

1951

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Sarasota/Bradenton → Sarasota/Bradenton

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

GAA15CA008

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's failure to use the proper hand propping procedures, resulting in a runaway airplane.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot and passenger were on a cross-country flight when the pilot noticed that the battery was no longer charging. After landing, the pilot decided to save battery power for the return flight by hand propping the airplane. He briefed the passenger for the hand start procedure, but did not realize the throttle was in the full throttle position. Upon starting, the engine went to full power. The pilot was unable to reenter the airplane before it made two tight left circles on the ramp and collided with an open hangar and the airplane inside. Federal Aviation Administration Pilot's Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge FAA-8037-3a contains a section titled, "Hand Propping", which indicates to never allow a person unfamiliar with the controls to occupy the pilot's seat when hand propping. The section also indicates that an additional precaution includes placement of chalks in front of the main tires or if not feasible, the airplane's tail may be securely tied.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.