# NTSB ERA10CA224: Piper PA17, N4699H, Louisburg, NC, April 11, 2010

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: April 11, 2010, 18:30 local (22:30 UTC)
- Place: Louisburg, NC
- Coordinates: 36.023334, -78.330001 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.0233&lon=-78.3300&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: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report August 12, 2010
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: FAA/FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 75726
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA10CA224
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/75726/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=75726
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA10CA224

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to properly secure the airplane before attempting to hand-prop the engine.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Action: incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 1,386 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/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: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot stated that the airplane was tied down on the right side, and the right main landing gear wheel was chocked. After hand-propping the engine, the airplane's tie-down rope "came loose," and the airplane "veered" into an adjacent hangar. The right wing sustained substantial damage. The pilot stated that the accident could have been prevented by "using a better quality tie-down rope, having a second pilot in the airplane holding the brakes, or by having both wheels chocked instead of just one."

## Factual narrative

The pilot stated that the airplane was tied down on the right side, and the right main landing gear wheel was chocked. After hand-propping the engine, the airplane's tie-down rope "came loose," and the airplane "veered" into an adjacent hangar. The right wing sustained substantial damage. The pilot stated that the accident could have been prevented by "using a better quality tie-down rope, having a second pilot in the airplane holding the brakes, or by having both wheels chocked instead of just one."

## Aircraft

- Registration: N4699H (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA17 (NO SERIES)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17-97
- Airframe hours: 2110
- Engines: Continental A-65-8 65 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Frank Edward Moore
- Registered owner: Frank Edward Moore
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility
- Last inspection: Annual, October 1, 2009
- Departed: LHZ, Louisburg, NC
- Destination: LHZ, Louisburg, NC
- Airport: LHZ, Franklin County

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 59; injuries: minor; sport pilot, commercial, private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: sport pilot; last flight review October 15, 2008; flight hours: 650 total, 231 in this make and model, 484 as pilot in command, 9 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 43 °F
- Altimeter: 30.23 inHg
- Observed at: LHZ

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Incident 20100411031909I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100411031909I), Apr 11, 2010: Piper PA-17, Louisburg, NC, Substantial damage. While hand-propping aircraft (tied down and chocked); tail tiedown came loose, aircraft jumped single chock and taxied unoccupied until colliding with hangar.

## Docket (1 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 10, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=75726. 450 KB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 450 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40329004&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.

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