20041028028139A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Bbavia 7GCAA · Petaluma, CA · October 28, 2004

Date: October 28, 2004 · 09:30 local
Place: Petaluma, CA
Airport: Petaluma Municipal Airport
Phase of flight: Starting Engines
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N9081L
NTSB investigation: NTSBLAX05CA024
Reported as: Bbavia 7GCAA
Reported engine: Lycoming O320*
Fatal injuries: 0
Pilot’s flight hours: 234 total141 in this make and model5 in the last 90 days

N9081LRegistered now · Champion 7GCAAS/N 224-70 · Built 1970 Airframe modelChampion 7GCAA Engine modelLycoming 0-320 seriesReciprocating

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

(-23) Pilot stated he ran the battery down attempting to start the engine. Pilot was observed attempting to hand prop the aircraft without the brakes set or wheels chocked. Engine started and taxied across the ramp hitting a CE-182-Q aircraft that was tied down causing major damage to both aircraft. A passenger was in the back seat of the champion and was briefed not to touch the pedals. Pilot not on board.

As the FAA filed it

(-23) PILOT STATED HE RAN THE BATTERY DOWN ATTEMPTING TO START THE ENGINE. PILOT WAS OBSERVED ATTEMPTING TO HAND PROP THE AIRCRAFT WITHOUT THE BRAKES SET OR WHEELS CHOCKED. ENGINE STARTED AND TAXIED ACROSS THE RAMP HITTING A CE-182-Q AIRCRAFT THAT WAS TIED DOWN CAUSING MAJOR DAMAGE TO BOTH AIRCRAFT. A PASSENGER WAS IN THE BACK SEAT OF THE CHAMPION AND WAS BRIEFED NOT TO TOUCH THE PEDALS. PILOT NOT ON BOARD.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB LAX05CA024Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportPetaluma, CAthe pilot's failure to follow the published prestart, start, and shutdown procedures.Oct 28, 2004 · Substantial damage