# NTSB CEN13CA282: Cessna 172RG, N5219U, Abbeville, LA, May 16, 2013 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: May 16, 2013, 05:00 local (10:00 UTC) - Place: Abbeville, LA - Coordinates: 29.971944, -92.083885 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.9719&lon=-92.0839&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Standing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/150) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Standing-engine(s) start-up: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 23, 2013 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 86912 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN13CA282 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/86912/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=86912 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13CA282 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to properly secure the airplane before hand starting the engine and the failure of the brass tie down hook. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Parking/securing: tie-down/mooring](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01011020): Aircraft › Aircraft handling/service · Not specified (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172RG, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01011020/cases.md?model=2072438), [All aircraft, 33 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01011020/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172RG, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2072438), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Standing-engine(s) start-up: Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330); cases with it: [Cessna 172RG, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md?model=2072438), [All aircraft, 994 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md) - [Standing-engine(s) start-up: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172RG, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2072438), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) ## Analysis The airplane's engine battery was dead so the pilot elected to hand-prop the engine. He tied the tail of the airplane down via a brass snap-hook that attached to a metal fastener underneath the airplane's tail section. The snap-hook was attached to a rope that was secured to the ground. The pilot set the parking brake and checked the throttle position; however, he did not secure the wheels with chocks. The engine started on the third attempt and RPM increased as the pilot walked back toward the cockpit. Before he got there, the brass snap-hook broke and the airplane began to roll forward. The pilot was unable to access the cockpit and the airplane traveled unattended until it collided with a parked airplane resulting in substantial damage to the right wing. ## Factual narrative The airplane's engine battery was dead so the pilot elected to hand-prop the engine. He tied the tail of the airplane down via a brass snap-hook that attached to a metal fastener underneath the airplane's tail section. The snap-hook was attached to a rope that was secured to the ground. The pilot set the parking brake and checked the throttle position; however, he did not secure the wheels with chocks. The engine started on the third attempt and RPM increased as the pilot walked back toward the cockpit. Before he got there, the brass snap-hook broke and the airplane began to roll forward. The pilot was unable to access the cockpit and the airplane traveled unattended until it collided with a parked airplane resulting in substantial damage to the right wing. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5219U](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5219U), registered now, S/N 172RG0287, built 1980 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172RG - Registry model: [Cessna 172RG](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172rg) (registry code 2072438) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 172RG0287 - Airframe hours: 18709 - Engines: LYCOMING O&VO-360 SER 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial observation, Part 91 - Operator: Omega Protein Inc - Registered owner: Omega Protein Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 14, 2013 - Departed: IYA, Abbeville, LA - Destination: IYA, Abbeville, LA - Flight plan: Unknown - Airport: IYA, Abbeville ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 49; injuries: none; private, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review April 29, 2012; flight hours: 15,953 total, 12,500 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20130516008519A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130516008519A), May 16, 2013: Cessna 172RG, Abbeville, LA, Substantial damage. Pilot hand propped engine due to a dead battery. The pilot did not chock the tires and set the hand brake correctly. Also no one was at the controls when the… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 26, 2013, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=86912. 558 KB in all. - Pilot's Written Statement (item 1, .PDF, 162 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40395758&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%27s%20Written%20Statement-Redacted.PDF - Record of Conversation - Pilot (item 2, .PDF, 70 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40395761&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20Pilot-Master.PDF - Photo 1 (item 3, .PDF, 325 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40395763&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201-Master.PDF From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.