Piper J3C-65 N3453K

Summary

On 17 August 2011 at about 22:00 local time, a Piper J3C-65 registered N3453K, operated by Baron Fred N, was involved in an accident near Fortuna, California, United States. 3 people were on board. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

17 August 2011 at 22:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Fortuna, California, United States

Nearest airport

Rohnerville Airport (FOT)

Coordinates

40.5536, -124.1325

Aircraft

Piper J3C-65

Registration

N3453K

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Baron Fred N

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Fortuna → Garberville

Aircraft damage

Not recorded

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR11LA487

Injuries not recorded.

The unexpected engine start during hand propping, which resulted in a serious injury. Contributing to the accident was the lack of communication between the pilot and the individual hand propping the engine.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The individual attempting to start the engine by turning the propeller (hand prop) reported that, during the first attempt to start the engine, verbal callouts were used. He further reported that the pilot then told him to pull the propeller through three times. The individual said that he then motioned, without a verbal callout to the pilot, that he would pull the propeller through per the pilot's request. The pilot reported that the individual hand-propping the engine pulled the propeller through a second time before he could secure the airplane by turning off the magnetos. As the individual rotated the propeller and reached to grab the other propeller blade, the engine unexpectedly started, which resulted in the propeller striking the individual in the right arm, causing a fracture.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.