# NTSB CEN21LA310: Aeronca 11AC, N9149E, Wapakoneta, OH, July 5, 2021 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: July 5, 2021, 12:00 local (16:00 UTC) - Place: Wapakoneta, OH · ramp/hangar - Coordinates: 40.49355, -84.298 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.4935&lon=-84.2980&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Standing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/150) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Standing-engine(s) start-up: Ground handling event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/080) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA Columbus FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 103443 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN21LA310 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/103443/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103443 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21LA310 ## Probable cause The pilot’s inadequate engine hand propping procedure resulting in the unoccupied airplane’s unintended movement and subsequent impact with a hangar. ## 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 installed/available (probable cause); cases with it: [Aeronca 11AC, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01011020/cases.md?model=0191102), [All aircraft, 33 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01011020/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: use of equip/system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Aeronca 11AC, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md?model=0191102), [All aircraft, 1,391 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md) - [Planning/preparation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061000): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Aeronca 11AC, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061000/cases.md?model=0191102), [All aircraft, 113 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061000/cases.md) - [Landing gear system: landing gear brakes system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023240): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Capability exceeded (probable cause); cases with it: [Aeronca 11AC, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023240/cases.md?model=0191102), [All aircraft, 92 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023240/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: Ground handling event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/080) (defining event); cases with it: [Aeronca 11AC, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/080/sequence.md?model=0191102), [All aircraft, 108 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/080/sequence.md) ## Analysis The airplane was not equipped with an electrical system and the engine was started by hand propping. The pilot reported that he did not have a passenger to hold the brakes in the cockpit during engine start, nor did he use wheel chocks and/or tether the tail to a fixed object because he thought using the airplane’s parking brake would keep the airplane stationary after the engine had started. Before the engine was hand propped, the pilot set the throttle about ¼” to ½” forward of the idle position, but the engine’s speed was much higher than he had expected after the engine started. The unoccupied airplane initially moved forward before it entered a left turn on the ramp in front of a row of hangars. Although the pilot was able to reach into the cockpit to move the throttle to idle, the airplane continued in the left turn and struck a closed hangar door, resulting in substantial damage to the right wing. The pilot did not report any mechanical malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9149E](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9149E-2022-11-07), registration cancelled 2022-11-07, S/N 11AC-783, built 1946 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AERONCA 11AC - Registry model: [Aeronca 11AC](https://openairdocs.org/model/aeronca-11ac) (registry code 0191102) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental A&C65 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-a-c65-series) (registry code 17003, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 11AC-783 - Year built: 1946 - Airframe hours: 2252.17 - Engines: Continental A65-8 65 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, December 6, 2020, 40.9 hours before - Destination: 3CM, Bay City, MI - Airport: AXV, Neil Armstrong Airport - Equipment: None ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 55; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review June 12, 2020; seat: none; restraint: none; flight hours: 3,205 total, 30 in this make and model, 3,150 as pilot in command, 120 in the last 90 days, 26 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 220° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 68 °F - Altimeter: 30.06 inHg - Observed at: KAXV - METAR: METAR KAXV 051555Z AUTO 22006KT 10SM CLR 28/20 A3006 RMK AO2= ## 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 20210705012629A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210705012629A), Jul 5, 2021: Aeronca 11AC, Wapakoneta, OH, Substantial damage. Pilot in command [privacy data omitted] was trying to hand prop aircraft outside the hanger, he did not chock the tires, tie the tail and thought he had set… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 4, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103443. 974 KB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 716 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12822158&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=01%20-%20Pilot%20Report_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photo (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 1 photo, 258 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12822724&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=02%20-%20Photo-Rel.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.