While preparing for the flight, the pilot initiated the Cessna 185’s engine starting procedure, which included steps to advance the throttle and engage the electric fuel pump, in order to prime the fuel system.
A subsequent step required that the throttle setting be reduced to idle position before engaging the starter motor.
The pilot stated that for this step, he unintentionally pulled the propeller control out instead of the throttle control, and when he engaged the starter, the engine started and immediately went to full rpm.
The airplane then travelled across the ramp at the airport in Lewiston, Maine, and hit two parked airplanes, resulting in substantial damage to the 185’s left elevator.
The airplane then went through an opening in a snowbank and came to rest about 150 yards from where it initially started.
The NTSB determined the probable cause as the pilot’s failure to properly set the throttle prior to engine start, which resulted in a loss of control and collision with parked airplanes.
NTSB Identification: ERA15CA095
This January 2015 accident report is provided by the National Transportation Safety Board. Published as an educational tool, it is intended to help pilots learn from the misfortunes of others.
Probably dark too.
Riddle me this Batman, how did the engine go to full rpm with the prop control in low rpm? At best in my airplane the rpm will only go to 1700, a fair amount of power but not fast enough to send the airplane 150 yards is a short period of time.
Not said in the NTSB report or in any document in the accident Docket is that the pilot did not use a checklist during his start procedure. While the pilot reported nearly 1900 hours in this make and model of aircraft, in the Pilot/Operator Report found in the Docket he indicated that he had only 14 hours in the previous 90 days, and zero hours in the previous 30 days. His flight was for business so it is possible that he was mulling over the tasks he needed to complete in the enterprise, rather than paying full attention to his start up configuration and procedure (brakes, throttle, etc.). I have yet to meet a pilot who follows all procedures exactly and uses a checklist 100% of the time… Lapses do occur. Even in the ‘pro’ cockpits multiple studies demonstrate that the “perfect flight” that is completely error free never happens. Crews make errors, but the vast majority are caught and corrected before they coalesce into a mishap. This pilot didn’t have the luxury of a second crew member, hence his failure to use a check list and his non-standard approach to starting set him up for this outcome. Human as I am, I can’t point fingers at him, I can just learn from his error chain.
I’m curious about what other C-185 pilots procedure is for starting their fuel injected engines. For me, my left hand flips on the boost pump while my right hand advances the throttle to the point where the pump goes into high rpm. This is nowhere near full throttle… maybe 1/3. I’m watching the fuel flow gage for maybe 3 to 4 seconds max before I reduce the throttle to idle and flip off the boost pump. My right hand never comes off the throttle at any time. Left hand then goes to the ignition switch…to engage starter, and the throttle is slowly advanced… usually only three blades and it starts. What do other folks do?
I have to agree with Jeff, Sometimes a person forgets (human)
While doing your check list stay calm cool and collective.
Collected.
You guys get a bit harsh with the name calling. People make mistakes. This guy made a series of mistakes. Too comfortable with what he’s doing and forgot basic procedure. Brakes before starter. No doubt he had his hand on the prop control thinking he had the throttle. When the engine ran away, He had to have a few moments of terrified confusion as he was no doubt still pulling back on the prop control thinking it was the throttle while his plane was crashing into various objects.
“Hey, Porcupine…”
“Roses are red, violets are blue
Drink two of these and
woob woobwoobwoob woo!”
Hey Moe, Hey Larry!!!
You can’t fix stupid
Uhh…brakes? Uhh…pull throttle out? Uhh…mags off? Was this guy just enjoying the scenery going by while he was careening out of control? I thought brains were necessary to fly an airplane? Oh wait, that’s to “fly” not to “crash.” This story reads like a Three Stooges episode synopsis.