- Date
- February 23, 2013, 12:00 local (17:00 UTC)
- Place
- Venice, FL
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Standing
- Aircraft
- C-GNEWPiper PA-46-310P
- Defining event
- Standing-engine(s) start-up: Ground handling event
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report June 24, 2013
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties
- FAA/FSDO
- Case key
- 86521
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot’s failure to secure the airplane before moving the propeller to assist the engine start.
Findings · 2
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
According to the pilot, he attempted to start the engine while it was still warm. He noted that he used several throttle and mixture lever positions to try to start the engine but that the starter clutch would not engage and the engine would not start. The pilot turned off the master switch, but he inadvertently left the magneto switch in the ON position. He then exited the airplane and rotated the propeller to assist the engine start. As he started to walk back to re-enter the airplane, the propeller moved, and the engine started. The airplane moved forward, struck a taxiway light, and came to rest in a ditch, resulting in substantial damage to the left wing. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Factual narrative
According to the pilot, he attempted to start the engine while it was still warm. He noted that the starter clutch was not engaging and utilized several throttle and mixture lever positions, but the engine would not start. The pilot turned off the master switch, but inadvertently left the magneto switch in the ON position. He then exited the airplane and rotated the propeller to assist the engine start. As he walked away to re-enter the airplane, the engine started. The airplane moved forward, struck a taxiway light, and came to rest in a ditch, resulting in substantial damage to the left wing. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Aircraft
- Registration
- C-GNEW
- Reported as
- Piper PA-46-310P
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 46-8608029
- Airframe hours
- 3,648
- Engine
- Continental Motors TSIO-550-C1, 310 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- 1478392 Alberta Ltd
- Registered owner
- 1478392 Alberta Ltd
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · September 7, 2012
- Departed
- VNC · Venice, FL
- Destination
- FL59 · Fort Myers, FL
- Airport
- VNC · Venice Municipal Airport
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 59
- Injuries
- None
- Certificates
- Private, Foreign
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 3, Without waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- May 17, 2012
- Flight hours
- 1,748 total · 470 in this make and model · 1,395 as pilot in command
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 150° at 10 knots
- Visibility
- 8 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 700 ft broken
- Temperature
- 72 °F, dew point 70 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.97 inHg
- Observed at
- VNC
Docket · 4
The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 23, 2013, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 5.1 MB in all.