NTSB Factual Report

On May 10, 2002, about 1730 Alaska daylight time, a Cessna 172 airplane, N6475E, sustained substantial damage during an engine starting procedure at the Fairbanks International Airport, Fairbanks, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) personal flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. There were no passengers aboard the airplane, and the private pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. Koyukuk, Alaska, was the intended destination of the flight.

During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC), on May 10, the pilot said he had been having problems with the airplane's starter not engaging. He said he was attempting to start the engine in preparation for a flight to Koyukuk. There was no one at the controls, and the airplane was not chocked or tied-down, but the parking brake was set, when he attempted to start the engine by hand-propping. He said when the engine started, the parking brake was not able to keep the airplane stopped. The pilot was unable to physically hold the airplane, and it accelerated across the ramp and collided with a hangar. The hangar was damaged, and the airplane's right wing leading edge, ribs, and spar were damaged. The fuselage aft of the passenger compartment was also damaged. There were no injuries caused by the accident.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilots improper starting procedure. Factors associated with the accident are the continued operation of the airplane with a known mechanical deficiency, and failure to use wheel chocks and/or tie-down rope/straps to restrain the airplane during the engine starting procedure.