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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

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NTSB Report

July 11, 1994 · Wsk Pzl Wilga 80 · N7080B

Churchville, MD

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
July 11, 1994
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 serious injury)
Location
Churchville, MD
Aircraft
Wsk Pzl Wilga 80
Tail Number
N7080B
Operator
Jay N Gathmann
Injuries
Serious
NTSB Number
NYC94LA117

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.

NTSB Probable Cause

IMPROPER STARTING PROCEDURE BY THE PILOT.

Full 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.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time12:00 EDT
Nearest AirportHanford County (0nm)
Runway0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftWsk Pzl Wilga 80
Tail NumberN7080B
Aircraft CategoryAir
OperatorJay N Gathmann
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsAI-14RA · Reciprocating · 260
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 serious injury)
Fatal0
Serious1
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total1
Crew 1Age 57 · Second Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
WindCalm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point0 C / 0 C
Altimeter0
Weather SourceWIT

Appendix: Source Data