What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) The owner reported that he was performing a maintenance ground run when he observed the transponder sliding aft out of its mounting tray. The owner then removed the transponder completely and turned to place the unit on the back seat. During this time the engine was still at a high RPM and he felt the aircraft tail begin to lift, he quickly turned forward and retarded the throttle, although this action was too late to prevent the propeller from striking the taxiway, resulting in a sudden stoppage to the engine. He further stated that the RPM had decreased prior to impact, after he had reduced throttle input upon realization of the aircraft's movement. 32. Counseled owner about insuring the aircraft is properly inspected for operation prior to ground run and or taxi. Further discussed the need to insure the controls are properly positioned and monitored during ground runs at high power settings, especially on taildragger aircraft, as they have a tendency to lift the tail.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) THE OWNER REPORTED THAT HE WAS PERFORMING A MAINTENANCE GROUND RUN WHEN HE OBSERVED THE TRANSPONDER SLIDING AFT OUT OF ITS MOUNTING TRAY. THE OWNER THEN REMOVED THE TRANSPONDER COMPLETELY AND TURNED TO PLACE THE UNIT ON THE BACK SEAT. DURING THIS TIME THE ENGINE WAS STILL AT A HIGH RPM AND HE FELT THE AIRCRAFT TAIL BEGIN TO LIFT, HE QUICKLY TURNED FORWARD AND RETARDED THE THROTTLE, ALTHOUGH THIS ACTION WAS TOO LATE TO PREVENT THE PROPELLER FROM STRIKING THE TAXIWAY, RESULTING IN A SUDDEN STOPPAGE TO THE ENGINE. HE FURTHER STATED THAT THE RPM HAD DECREASED PRIOR TO IMPACT, AFTER HE HAD REDUCED THROTTLE INPUT UPON REALIZATION OF THE AIRCRAFT'S MOVEMENT. 32. COUNSELED OWNER ABOUT INSURING THE AIRCRAFT IS PROPERLY INSPECTED FOR OPERATION PRIOR TO GROUND RUN AND OR TAXI. FURTHER DISCUSSED THE NEED TO INSURE THE CONTROLS ARE PROPERLY POSITIONED AND MONITORED DURING GROUND RUNS AT HIGH POWER SETTINGS, ESPECIALLY ON TAILDRAGGER AIRCRAFT, AS THEY HAVE A TENDENCY TO LIFT THE TAIL.
Other reports on N3241M · 2
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.