# NTSB LAX07CA214: Aeronca 7AC, N2869E, Clarksburg, CA, July 8, 2007 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: July 8, 2007, 14:30 local (21:30 UTC) - Place: Clarksburg, CA - Coordinates: 38.443054, -121.508613 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.4431&lon=-121.5086&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Standing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/150) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report October 31, 2007 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 66192 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX07CA214 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/66192/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX07CA214 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate hand-prop starting procedure and failure to secure the airplane. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Propeller/rotor contact to person, standing - starting engine(s) - starting procedure - improper, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis The airplane abruptly moved forward and contacted the pilot while he was attempting to start the engine by hand propping. The pilot attempted to start the engine by rotating the propeller by hand. The engine started abruptly and the airplane lurched forward. The propeller contacted the left side of the pilot's body, severing his left arm. The pilot said he had accidentally positioned the throttle control in the full open (on) position and he had not secured the airplane prior to the start-up attempt. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airframe or engine. ## Factual narrative The airplane abruptly moved forward and contacted the pilot while he was attempting to start the engine by hand. During a telephone interview with a National Transportation Safety Board investigator, the pilot stated that he had flown to the airport earlier in the day. He intended to depart back to his home-airport and attempted to start the engine by rotating the propeller by hand, as he had done many times previously. The engine started abruptly and the airplane lurched forward. The propeller contacted the left side of the pilot's body, severing his left arm. The pilot further stated that he had accidentally positioned the throttle control in the full open (on) position, which resulted in the sudden movement; he had not secured the airplane prior to the start-up attempt. He reported no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airframe or engine. The pilot had over 1,500 hours in the accident airplane. Federal Aviation Administration publication, Preventing Accidents During Aircraft Ground Operations (FAA-P-8740-20), presents suggestions to aid in increasing the safety factor while hand starting airplanes. The publication states the following: "No one should attempt to start an aircraft engine without a qualified person at the cockpit controls. The person turning the propeller should be properly trained in the technique of hand cranking. If you have in mind to try hand propping by yourself - DON'T. If you must hand prop - get qualified help to position the engine controls and switches during the starting procedure. If hand propping can be avoided - DO." "Unsupervised 'hand propping' of an airplane should not be attempted by inexperienced persons. Regardless of the experience level, it should never be attempted by anyone without adhering to adequate safety measures. Uninformed or inexperienced persons or non-pilot passengers should never handle the throttle, brakes, or switches during starting procedures. The airplane should be securely chocked or tied down, and great care should be exercised in setting the throttle. It may be well to turn the fuel selector valve to the 'off' position after properly priming the engine and prior to actually attempting the hand start. After it starts, the engine will usually run long enough with the fuel 'off' to permit walking around the propeller and turning the fuel selector to the 'on' position." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2869E](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2869E), registered now, S/N 7AC-6452, built 1946 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Aeronca 7AC - Registry model: [Aeronca 7AC](https://openairdocs.org/model/aeronca-7ac) (registry code 2110102) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental A&C65 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-a-c65-series) (registry code 17003, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 7AC-6452 - Engines: Continental C65 reciprocating - Damage: Minor damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: CN13, Clarksburg, CA - Destination: 0Q9, Sonoma, CA - Airport: CN13, Clarksburg ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 79; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3; flight hours: 1,613 total, 1,530 in this make and model, 20 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none ## 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 20070708012889A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20070708012889A), Jul 8, 2007: Bbavia 7AC, Clarksburg, CA, Minor damage. (-23) On July 8, 2007, the pilot [privacy data omitted] was severely injured while hand propping the engine on his aircraft prior to intended flight. After the… 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.