Accident PZL-104 Wilga 80 N7080B, Monday 11 July 1994

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Date:	Monday 11 July 1994
Time:	13:00 LT
Type:	PZL-104 Wilga 80
Owner/operator:	Private
Registration:	N7080B
MSN:	CF21920934
Engine model:	AI-14RA
Fatalities:	Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 1
Other fatalities:	0
Aircraft damage:	None
Category:	Accident
Location:	Churchville, MD - United States of America
Phase:	Standing
Nature:	Private
Departure airport:
Destination airport:
Investigating agency:	NTSB
Confidence Rating:	Accident investigation report completed and information captured

Narrative:
THE PILOT WAS ATTEMPTING TO HAND PROP A 260 HORSE POWER RADIAL ENGINE. THE ENGINE WAS NORMALLY STARTED WITH COMPRESSED AIR; HOWEVER, THE AIR RESERVOIR WAS EMPTY. THE IGNITION SYSTEM USED A 'SHOWER OF SPARKS' SYSTEM. ANOTHER PILOT SAT IN A PILOT SEAT TO HOLD THE BRAKES. THE ENGINE WAS PRIMED AND THE MAGNETO SWITCH TURNED ON. THE PILOT PULLED THE PROPELLER BLADE AND ONE CYLINDER FIRED. HIS HEAD WAS WITHIN THE ARC OF THE ROTATING PROPELLER BLADES AND HE WAS STRUCK BY A BLADE.

Probable Cause: IMPROPER STARTING PROCEDURE BY THE PILOT.

Accident investigation: