CEN17LA234

The private pilot prepared to hand-prop the airplane, which was not equipped with an electrical starter, by tying the tail down with a nylon rope. The pilot then hand-propped the engine, which started at a high power setting. The airplane moved forward, breaking the rope, and continued to taxi in circles. The pilot and another individual tried to stop the airplane; however, the propeller struck the pilot, resulting in fatal injuries. The airplane eventually came to stop farther down the runway. Although the pilot attempted to secure the airplane by tying down the tail, the throttle was set at a high engine power setting, allowing the airplane's movement.

On June 17, 2017, about 1330 eastern daylight time, an Aeronca 65-CA airplane, N33778, experienced a propeller blade strike during an attempted hand prop of the engine at the Wynkoop Airport (6G4), Mount Vernon, Ohio. The pilot, and intended sole occupant, was fatally injured and the airplane sustained minor damage. The airplane was registered to and operated by a private individual under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the planned flight. Information collected by the responding Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector and an Ohio State Patrol officer, indicate the pilot attempted to start the engine by hand-propping the airplane. According to a person located at 6G4, the pilot had flown in arrived at 6G4 earlier and was to depart. The person added that the pilot tied the tail of the airplane off with a nylon rope that he had brought with him. The airplane wheels were not chocked and the pilot was having difficulties starting the engine. The witness was in the hangar when he heard the airplane start at a high rpm, so he quickly stepped outside. The witness reported the airplane had broken the rope and was taxiing around in circles while the pilot attempted to stop the airplane. The witness joined the pilot in trying to stop the airplane; however, the propeller struck the pilot, knocking him down. The airplane eventually came to stop further down the runway. The vintage airplane was not equipped with an electrical system or an electric starter.