Piper PA 17 N4584H

Summary

On 6 October 2016 at about 20:40 local time, a Piper PA 17 registered N4584H was involved in an accident near Keene Valley, New York, 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

6 October 2016 at 20:40

Classification

Accident

Location

Keene Valley, New York, United States

Nearest airport

Marcy Field (1I1)

Coordinates

44.2211, -73.7875

Aircraft

Piper PA 17

Registration

N4584H

Category

Airplane

Year built

1948

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Ghent → Keene Valley

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

GAA17CA017

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's failure to use the proper hand propping procedures, resulting in a runaway airplane and an impact with trees.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that he attempted to hand prop the unoccupied and unchocked airplane, but was unsuccessful. He returned to the cockpit to prime the engine, but then decided to instruct his passenger on how to enter and exit the cockpit, which she then practiced multiple times before exiting the airplane to watch the start procedures again. The pilot further reported that he attempted to hand prop the airplane a second time and the engine started and accelerated to a high revolution per minute (RPM) setting. The pilot was unable to restrain the airplane by holding the right wing lift strut and the airplane made a right circle, entered a wooded area, and impacted trees. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings and fuselage. The pilot later reported that the airplane was not equipped with a parking brake. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. Federal Aviation Administration's Airplane Flying Handbook, FAA-H-8083-3A, contains a section titled "Hand Propping" which states: 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.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.