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December 16, 1987 · Grumman American AA-5 · N7151L

Elizabethtown, KY

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
December 16, 1987
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (2 uninjured)
Location
Elizabethtown, KY
Aircraft
Grumman American AA-5
Tail Number
N7151L
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
ATL88LA065

AFTER A SHORT STOP BTN FLTS, THE BATTERY WAS TOO WEAK TO CRANK THE ENG. THE PLT ELECTED TO HAND-PROP THE ENG WHILE HIS NON-RATED PAX HELD THE BRAKES. HE BRIEFED THE PAX ON THE PROPER PROCEDURE. HE HAD PREVIOUSLY ALLOWED THE PAX TO OPERATE THE BRAKES WHILE TAXIING, & BELIEVED THAT WITH THE BRIEFING, THE PAX WOULD BE ABLE TO OPERATE THE BRAKES DRG THE HAND PROPPING OPN. THE ACFT WAS NOT CHOCKED OR TIED DOWN. THE ENG STARTED IMMEDIATELY WHEN THE PLT PULLED THE PROP THRU. THE PAX RETARDED THE THROTTLE AFTER THE ENG STARTED; HOWEVER, BEFORE THE PLT GOT TO THE COCKPIT, A 'GREAT GUST OF WIND' FROM BEHIND THE ACFT PUSHED IT FWD & IT BEGAN TO ROLL ACROSS THE RAMP. THE PAX WAS UNABLE TO STOP THE ACFT OR STEER IT AWAY FROM OTHER ACFT. SUBSEQUENTLY, IT COLLIDED WITH A PARKED LEARJET & BOTH ACFT WERE SUBSTANTIALLY DMGD. THE BRAKING SYS OF N7151L WAS EXAMINED & RPRTD TO BE FUNCTIONAL. FBO PSNL RPRTD THAT A POWER CART WAS AVAILABLE FOR A 'JUMP' START, AS WELL AS WHEEL CHOCKS. N7151L HAD A CASTERING NOSEWHEEL & WAS STEERED BY USING THE BRAKES.

Full Narrative

AFTER A SHORT STOP BTN FLTS, THE BATTERY WAS TOO WEAK TO CRANK THE ENG. THE PLT ELECTED TO HAND-PROP THE ENG WHILE HIS NON-RATED PAX HELD THE BRAKES. HE BRIEFED THE PAX ON THE PROPER PROCEDURE. HE HAD PREVIOUSLY ALLOWED THE PAX TO OPERATE THE BRAKES WHILE TAXIING, & BELIEVED THAT WITH THE BRIEFING, THE PAX WOULD BE ABLE TO OPERATE THE BRAKES DRG THE HAND PROPPING OPN. THE ACFT WAS NOT CHOCKED OR TIED DOWN. THE ENG STARTED IMMEDIATELY WHEN THE PLT PULLED THE PROP THRU. THE PAX RETARDED THE THROTTLE AFTER THE ENG STARTED; HOWEVER, BEFORE THE PLT GOT TO THE COCKPIT, A 'GREAT GUST OF WIND' FROM BEHIND THE ACFT PUSHED IT FWD & IT BEGAN TO ROLL ACROSS THE RAMP. THE PAX WAS UNABLE TO STOP THE ACFT OR STEER IT AWAY FROM OTHER ACFT. SUBSEQUENTLY, IT COLLIDED WITH A PARKED LEARJET & BOTH ACFT WERE SUBSTANTIALLY DMGD. THE BRAKING SYS OF N7151L WAS EXAMINED & RPRTD TO BE FUNCTIONAL. FBO PSNL RPRTD THAT A POWER CART WAS AVAILABLE FOR A 'JUMP' START, AS WELL AS WHEEL CHOCKS. N7151L HAD A CASTERING NOSEWHEEL & WAS STEERED BY USING THE BRAKES.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time07:25 CST
Nearest AirportElizabethtown (0nm N)
Runway0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftGrumman American AA-5
Tail NumberN7151L
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-320-E2G · Reciprocating · 150
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (2 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured2
Total2
Crew 1Age 22 · Third Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind250° @ 8 kt
Visibility7 sm
CeilingBroken clouds 3500 ft
Temperature / Dew Point28 C / 0 C
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time13:49
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data