PORTSMOUTH, OH, USA
N1844E
AERONCA 7AC
WITHOUT ASSISTANCE, THE PILOT HAND PROP STARTED THE ENGINE AND THE AIRPLANE TAXIED UNMANNED UNDER ITS OWN POWER. THE PILOT WAS ABLE TO GRAB THE WING STRUT AND REDIRECT THE AIRPLANE FROM TWO TRUCKS AND TOWARD A HANGAR DOOR. THE 1946 YEAR MODEL AIRPLANE WAS NOT EQUIPPED WITH A PARKING BRAKE. BEFORE HE ATTEMPTED TO START THE ENGINE, ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, HE CHOCKED ONE WHEEL WITH A WEDGE OF WOOD. AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS, WHICH INCLUDED A SECOND PRIMING, THE ENGINE STARTED WITH A SURGE, AND THE AIRPLANE ROLLED OVER THE SINGLE CHOCK.
On Monday, August 9, 1993, at 0930 eastern daylight time, an Aeronca Champ, N1844E, piloted by Sandis Crabtree was substantially damaged when it struck a hanger door during an unmanned taxi at Portsmouth Regional Airport, Portsmouth, Ohio. The pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. A flight plan had not been filed for the flight operating under 14 CFR 91. According the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Inspector the airplane was not equipped with a parking brake. The FAA Inspector's report stated: "With the intent to fly, the airmen hand propped his 1946 Aeronca Champ, without properly securing the aircraft and no other person on board, for additional security. The airmen secured the right main landing gear only, with a single wheel chock...When the engine fired and ran, the aircraft jumped the single wheel chock..." In the NTSB form 6120.1/2 the pilot stated: "...the main gear was chocked with the provided wood wedge...both magneto switches were...off...[the] throttle was opened and the engine was primed...pulling the propeller through 10-12 times... [the] magneto...placed...on...[after] several attempts...the engine was not firing and the odor of fuel was not present ... [the] magneto switches were placed...off...[the] throttle opened, engine primed and the propeller pulled through...again the throttle was positioned slightly open...[the] magneto ... placed in the on position...on the fourth attempt the engine started with a momentary burst...the airplane...lunged forward over the wood chocks and rolled...toward two parked tractors....I was able to direct the plane...away from the tractors...the airplane... veered too close to the hanger...the left wing tip struck the hanger door...the momentum of the aircraft jerked the wing strut from my hands and caused the plane to pivot...until the propeller ...struck the door...."
The pilot's inadequate start procedure which resulted in the airplane taxiing unmanned and its subsequent collision with a building. A factor is the pilot's failure to obtain assistance.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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