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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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February 24, 2006 · Champion 7ECA · N9007L

Forrest City, AR

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
February 24, 2006
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 fatality)
Location
Forrest City, AR
Aircraft
Champion 7ECA
Tail Number
N9007L
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
DFW06LA074

Personnel at the airport reported that the battery on the tailwheel equipped airplane was low. The pilot subsequently proceeded to attempt to start the engine by hand-propping. The engine started at a high power setting. The propeller struck the pilot's head and the airplane began to taxi in a right circle while unattended. The right wing tip collided with a hangar door and continued in a larger right circle, subsequently colliding with a parked agricultural airplane, causing substantial damage to the parked airplane. The flight had been scheduled to confirm water content on selected agricultural fields prior to dispatching agricultural aircraft for aerial application operations. The airplane was not tied-down and no one was onboard the airplane when the hand-propping was attempted. A Federal Aviation Administration inspector at the scene of the accident confirmed substantial damage to both aircraft. Both propeller blades were found bent forward and had sections of aluminum missing along the leading edges. The left wing leading edge was significantly bent back and wrinkled when it impacted the parked aerial application airplane. The cabin area of the parked airplane sustained structural damage and the windscreen was broken-out.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's failure to follow proper procedures while attempting to start the engine by hand-proping the engine.

Full Narrative

On February 24, 2006, at 1030 central standard time, a single-engine Champion 7ECA tailwheel equipped airplane, N9007L, was substantially damaged following a loss of control while the pilot was attempting to prop-start the engine at the Forrest City Municipal Airport, near Forrest City, Arkansas. The commercial pilot was fatally injured when he was struck by the propeller. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local aerial observation flight. The local flight was originating from the Forrest City Municipal Airport (FCY), near Forrest City , Arkansas. According to personnel at the airport, the airplane's battery was low and the pilot attempted to start the engine by hand-propping. The engine started at a high power setting. The propeller struck the pilot's head and the airplane began to taxi in a right circle while unattended. The right wing tip collided with a hangar door and continued in a larger right circle, subsequently colliding with a parked Air tractor, N6072Y, which resulted in structural damage to the parked airplane, as well as to the unattended aircraft. The flight had been scheduled to confirm the water content on selected agricultural fields prior to dispatching agricultural aircraft for aerial application operations. The airplane was not tied- down and no one was onboard the airplane when the hand-propping was attempted. A Federal Aviation Administration inspector at the scene of the accident confirmed structural damage to both aircraft. Both propeller blades on N9007L were found bent forward and had sections of aluminum missing along the leading edges. The left wing leading edge was significantly bent back and wrinkled when it impacted the parked Air tractor. The cabin area of the parked airplane sustained structural damage and the windscreen was broken-out.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time10:30 CST
Nearest AirportForrest City Municipal Airport (0nm)
Flight Plan FiledNone
Flight Plan ActivatedNo
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftChampion 7ECA
Tail NumberN9007L
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-235 · Reciprocating · 115
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 fatality)
Fatal1
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total1
Crew 1Age 53 · Second Class · Fatal

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind130° @ 3 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point55 / 37 C
Altimeter30.34 inHg
Observation Time16:40
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data