Location: Houston, Texas
Accident Number: CEN23LA023
Date & Time: Oct 29, 2022
Aircraft: MS-500 Morane-Saulnier (French-Built Fiesler Storch)
Registration: N778MS 
Event: Ground Collision
Injuries: 1 Minor
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91, Air Race/Show

Another NTSB investigation has covered a recent “D’oh!” moment at a Houston airshow, where an MS-500 (similar to a Storch) pilot forgot to complete his shutdown checklist after an unsuccessful attempt to start the engine. With cool air and viscous oil, he exited to hand crank the engine from the outside without turning off the magnetos. The result? An unexpectedly quick engine start followed by an expensive impact between the now-moving aircraft and a pair of parked planes. D’oh! 

The pilot reported that he was preparing for a display flight in a local airshow which included a preflight procedure to rotate the engine prior to start for lubrication purposes. During the procedure, the electric starter motor struggled to rotate the engine due to viscous oil because of cooler overnight temperatures, and the main circuit breaker had tripped. The pilot turned off all cockpit switches, but forgot to turn off the magneto switch, and exited the airplane. The pilot then utilized a hand crank to rotate the engine, and the engine unexpectedly started. The wheel chocks had been previously removed in preparation for the planned flight, and the airplane began to move. Several ground personnel attempted to stop the airplane but were unsuccessful before the airplane impacted two parked airplanes. 

The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings and the elevator. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. 

FMI: www.NTSB.gov