# NTSB NYC94LA117: WSK PZL Wilga 80, N7080B, Churchville, MD, July 11, 1994

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: July 11, 1994, 12:00 local (16:00 UTC)
- Place: Churchville, MD
- Coordinates: 39.56084, -76.239807 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.5608&lon=-76.2398&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Standing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/150) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report December 7, 1994
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 38784
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC94LA117
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/38784/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC94LA117

## Probable cause

IMPROPER STARTING PROCEDURE BY THE PILOT.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Miscellaneous/other, standing - starting engine(s)
  - starting procedure - improper, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

THE PILOT WAS ATTEMPTING TO HAND PROP A 260 HORSE POWER RADIAL ENGINE.  THE ENGINE WAS NORMALLY STARTED WITH COMPRESSED AIR; HOWEVER, THE AIR RESERVOIR WAS EMPTY.  THE IGNITION SYSTEM USED A 'SHOWER OF SPARKS' SYSTEM.  ANOTHER PILOT SAT IN A PILOT SEAT TO HOLD THE BRAKES.  THE ENGINE WAS PRIMED AND THE MAGNETO SWITCH TURNED ON.  THE PILOT PULLED THE PROPELLER BLADE AND ONE CYLINDER FIRED.  HIS HEAD WAS WITHIN THE ARC OF THE ROTATING PROPELLER BLADES AND HE WAS STRUCK BY A BLADE.

## Factual narrative

On July 11, 1994, at 1200 eastern daylight time, the pilot was struck by the propeller while attempting to hand prop a WSK- PZL, Wilga 80, N7080B, at Harford County Airport, Churchville, Maryland.  The pilot received serious injuries and the airplane was not damaged.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed for the flight which was operating under 14 CFR Part 91.

According to the FAA, the airplane engine was a 260 horse power radial.  It was normally started with compressed air; however, the air reservoir was empty.  The ignition system used a "shower of sparks" system for starting.  The pilot had requested another pilot to sit in one of the pilot seats and hold the brakes.  The engine was primed and the magneto switch turned on.

The accident occurred when the pilot started to pull the propeller blade through while his head was still within the arc of the rotating propeller blades.  One cylinder fired, and the propeller blades rotated, and one blade struck the pilot in the head.

Due to injuries received by the pilot, he was unable to the complete the NTSB Form 6120.1/2.  The form was filled out and submitted by the FAA.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7080B](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7080B-2014-11-20), registration cancelled 2014-11-20, S/N CF21920934 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: WSK PZL WILGA 80
- Registry model: [Wsk-Pzl Warzawa-Okecie PZL-104 WILGA 80](https://openairdocs.org/model/wsk-pzl-warzawa-okecie-pzl-104-wilga-80) (registry code 9810280) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Wsk-Pzl PZL AI-14 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/wsk-pzl-pzl-ai-14-series) (registry code 67202, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: CF21920934
- Engines: AI-14RA 260 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: No damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Jay N. Gathmann
- Registered owner: Melex USA, Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Airport: 0W3, Hanford County

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 57; private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; flight hours: 2,090 total

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day

## 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 19940711018299A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940711018299A), Jul 11, 1994: Wsk PZL104, Churchville, MD. Struck by propeller while hand starting engine. 260 HP radial. Air starter empty. Struck in head turning propeller.

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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