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20150107000222A

Accident · Substantial damage
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FAA accident report · Cessna A185E · Oxford, ME · January 7, 2015

FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal

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Date
January 7, 2015 · 10:00 local
Place
Oxford, ME
Airport
Oxford Municipal
Phase of flight
Taxi
Operating rules
General operating rules (Part 91)
Collision
Collision on the ground
Damage
Substantial damage
Aircraft
N70037
NTSB investigation
NTSBERA15CA095
Reported as
Cessna A185E
Reported engine
Continental IO-520 series
People aboard
1
Fatal injuries
0
Other injuries
0
Pilot’s certificate
Private pilot
Pilot’s flight hours
2,174 total1,870 in this make and model31 in the last 90 days
N70037Registered now · Cessna A185ES/N 18501905 · Built 1971Airframe modelCessna A185EEngine modelContinental IO-520 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.

After the pre-flight inspection the pilot initiated the starting procedure. The checklist starting procedure includes:

1. Advancing the throttle to the wide open position

2. Activating the electric emergency fuel pump until the proper reading is observed on the fuel flow gauge

3. Shutting off the electric emergency fuel pump

4. Retarding the throttle to the idle position

5. Engage the starter

The pilot states that the throttle was not retarded prior to engaging the starter and upon engaging the starter the engine immediately accelerated to full RPM. The plane subsequently accelerated at a rapid rate and the propeller hit the left wing of N6853W and the right wing of N70037 hit the tail of the same plane. N70037 continued to accelerate toward the runway and the propeller hit the right wing of N9593W. At this time, the magnetos on N70037 were shut off and came to rest approximately 150 yards from where it initially started.

Investigation determined that the throttle linkage was in good working order, however pilot admitted that in a panic he inadvertently pulled the propeller control aft rather than the throttle as the aircraft accelerated.

As the FAA filed it

AFTER THE PRE-FLIGHT INSPECTION THE PILOT INITIATED THE STARTING PROCEDURE. THE CHECKLIST STARTING PROCEDURE INCLUDES:

1. ADVANCING THE THROTTLE TO THE WIDE OPEN POSITION

2. ACTIVATING THE ELECTRIC EMERGENCY FUEL PUMP UNTIL THE PROPER READING IS OBSERVED ON THE FUEL FLOW GAUGE

3. SHUTTING OFF THE ELECTRIC EMERGENCY FUEL PUMP

4. RETARDING THE THROTTLE TO THE IDLE POSITION

5. ENGAGE THE STARTER

THE PILOT STATES THAT THE THROTTLE WAS NOT RETARDED PRIOR TO ENGAGING THE STARTER AND UPON ENGAGING THE STARTER THE ENGINE IMMEDIATELY ACCELERATED TO FULL RPM. THE PLANE SUBSEQUENTLY ACCELERATED AT A RAPID RATE AND THE PROPELLER HIT THE LEFT WING OF N6853W AND THE RIGHT WING OF N70037 HIT THE TAIL OF THE SAME PLANE. N70037 CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE TOWARD THE RUNWAY AND THE PROPELLER HIT THE RIGHT WING OF N9593W. AT THIS TIME, THE MAGNETOS ON N70037 WERE SHUT OFF AND CAME TO REST APPROXIMATELY 150 YARDS FROM WHERE IT INITIALLY STARTED.

INVESTIGATION DETERMINED THAT THE THROTTLE LINKAGE WAS IN GOOD WORKING ORDER, HOWEVER PILOT ADMITTED THAT IN A PANIC HE INADVERTENTLY PULLED THE PROPELLER CONTROL AFT RATHER THAN THE THROTTLE AS THE AIRCRAFT ACCELERATED.

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 ERA15CA095Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportLewiston, METhe pilot's failure to properly set the throttle prior to engine start, which resulted in a loss of control and collision with parked airplanes.Jan 7, 2015 · Substantial damage

Other aircraft in the event · 1

Each aircraft in a collision has its own report.

N6853WPiper PA-28-140No report for this aircraft in the release

Other reports on N70037 · 2

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

Incident 19850715042919ILevel Off Touchdown · Bethel, AKUnable to extend wheels for landing on hard surface runway. Hydraulic line came loose in belly, fluid leaked out.Jul 15, 1985Accident 19801115075839ALevel Off Touchdown · Port Townsend, WAFlipped over on water landing. Landing gear was extended on the amphibious floats.Nov 15, 1980 · Substantial damage