CEN20CA047

The pilot reported that he parked the airplane in front of the fuel pump and refueled both wing tanks before pushing the airplane back. The pilot reported that, while checking to see if the battery would charge before continuing the flight, the propeller turned slowly, and the engine did not start, so he chose to hand prop the airplane. He set the throttle, mixture, and parking brake, and after several attempts, the engine started. The engine appeared to be at idle, but then the rpms increased. The airplane moved forward and impacted the fuel station's credit card machine before he could enter and stop the airplane. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the airframe's bottom firewall area. Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that the throttle's friction lock was working. A check of the parking brake revealed that, even after the parking brake was applied, the airplane moved, and the brake did not function as intended. The reason for the parking brake malfunction was not determined. The accident is consistent with the pilot not setting the friction lock on the throttle and not verifying if the airplane would move when the parking brake was set.

The pilot reported that he was on a return flight back to his home airport. He turned on the airplane's cabin lights, and they seemed a bit dim. He decided to stop and troubleshoot the lighting issue and refuel, so he would have full fuel tanks for the night flight. He parked the airplane in front of the fuel pump and refueled both wing tanks, before pushing the airplane back. He added that he planned on checking to see if the battery would charge before continuing the flight. The propeller turned slow and the engine did not start, so he elected to hand prop the airplane. The pilot stated that he set the throttle, mixture, and parking brake, and after several attempts the engine started. He added that the engine appeared to be at idle, and then the rpm's increased. The airplane moved forward and impacted the fuel station's credit card machine before he could enter and stop the airplane. An examination of the airplane noted substantial damage to the airframe's belly/bottom firewall area. Additionally, there was minor damage to the airplane's cowling, propeller, and nosewheel pant. There was also damage to the fuel pump's credit card machine and a set of steps. An inspection of the airplane by the responding Federal Aviation Administration Inspector found that the throttle's friction lock was working; however, a check of the airplane's parking brake found that even after application of the brake, the airplane would move and the brakes did not function as intended. Though the specific problem with the brakes were not identified.