Probable Cause: The pilot’s failure to remove the wheel chocks before engine start which resulted in the inadvertent contact with the propeller while the engine was running.
NTSB Accidents
Test flight ends with total loss of engine power
Probable Cause: A total loss of engine power caused by fatigue cracking and fracture of the crankshaft due to severe wear of the bearings.
Corroded aileron cable proves fatal for CFI and student
Probable Cause: Maintenance personnel’s failure to detect the corroded aileron cable during recent inspections, which resulted in the separation of the aileron control cable and a subsequent loss of airplane control during takeoff.
Failure to apply carb heat leads to forced landing in river
Probable Cause: The pilot’s failure to apply carburetor heat before initiating a descent in conditions conducive to the development of carburetor icing, which resulted in a partial loss of engine power due to carburetor ice.
Failure to apply carb heat bends Piper
Probable Cause: The pilot’s failure to apply carburetor heat during the landing approach, which resulted in a loss of engine power from carburetor ice.
First flight in new plane goes awry
Probable Cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during landing in a gusting crosswind.
First flight after annual ends in crash
Probable Cause: Failure of the down limit and down indicator switch and the warning horn switch assemblies, which prevented the landing gear from extending and at the same time providing a false indication that the landing gear was extended.
Disconnected electronic ignition system contributes to crash
Probable Cause: The engine electronic ignition system became disconnected, which resulted in a partial loss of engine power.
Wrong fuel during test flight fatal for pilot
Probable Cause: The airplane owner/builder’s inappropriate use of a lower grade fuel than that required by the airplane and engine operations manual, which resulted in engine detonation and the degradation and eventual obliteration of the Nos. 1 and 2 cylinder spark plug electrode tips.