# NTSB ERA10CA058: Cessna 150, N976HB, York, PA, November 9, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: November 9, 2009, 11:45 local (16:45 UTC) - Place: York, PA - Coordinates: 39.916942, -76.870552 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.9169&lon=-76.8706&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Standing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/150) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Standing-engine(s) start-up: AC/prop/rotor contact w person](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/081) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 6, 2010 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 75032 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA10CA058 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/75032/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=75032 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA10CA058 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadvertent encounter with a rotating propeller. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Attention/monitoring: attention](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021510): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 150L, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021510/cases.md?model=2071826), [All aircraft, 226 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021510/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: AC/prop/rotor contact w person](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/081) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 150L, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/081/sequence.md?model=2071826), [All aircraft, 61 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/081/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot connected his car battery to the airplane's battery with jumper cables and started the airplane's engine. He stated that the airplane's wheels were not chocked, the parking brake was not set, and as he detached the jumper cables from the airplane's battery the airplane "started to taxi." The pilot stopped the airplane by holding on to the wing strut, and instructed the passenger inside the airplane to step on the toe brakes. During his second attempt to detach the jumper cables, the airplane moved forward again. According to the pilot, "I ran around again to stop the plane [and] I ran into the prop…" The pilot sustained a serious injury to his left arm. ## Factual narrative The pilot connected his car battery to the airplane's battery with jumper cables and started the airplane's engine. He stated that the airplane's wheels were not chocked, the parking brake was not set, and as he detached the jumper cables from the airplane's battery, the airplane "started to taxi." The pilot stopped the airplane by holding on to the wing strut, and instructed the passenger inside the airplane to step on the toe brakes. During his second attempt to detach the jumper cables, the airplane moved forward again. According to the pilot, "I ran around again to stop the plane [and] I ran into the prop…" The pilot sustained a serious injury to his left arm. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N976HB](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N976HB-2019-03-16), registration cancelled 2019-03-16, S/N 15074983, built 1973 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 150 (L) - Registry model: [Cessna 150L](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150l) (registry code 2071826) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-200 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-200-series) (registry code 17020, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 15074983 - Engines: CONTINENTAL O200 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: No damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Herbert M. Bartell - Registered owner: Herbert M. Bartell - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, October 21, 2009 - Departed: THV, York, PA - Destination: THV, York, PA - Flight plan: Unknown - Airport: THV, York Airport ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 81; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review May 22, 2008; flight hours: 2,148 total, 2,148 in this make and model, 2,104 as pilot in command, 12 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 5 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 50 °F - Altimeter: 30.38 inHg - Observed at: THV ## 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 20091109050989A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20091109050989A), Nov 9, 2009: Cessna 150L, Thomasville, PA, No damage. Pilot walked into rotating propeller arc and received serious injury to left arm, after using ground vehicle battery to assist with aircraft engine start. ## Other investigations on N976HB (1) 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. - [NTSB ERA16LA116](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA16LA116), Feb 27, 2016: Cessna 150L (N976HB), Gettysburg, PA, substantial damage. Probable cause: A partial loss of engine power during initial climb for undetermined reasons because examination of the engine and a successful test-run did not reveal any anomalies that would preclude normal… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 5, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=75032. 553 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 553 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40322593&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.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.