Ouch, pilot-less Cessna runs over a Cessna 206 . . .

[robbreid]

Happened yesterday in Australia;

Police say both planes were on the ground at Gunbalanya, about 330 kilometres east of Darwin, when one of the plane's engines started up after its pilot accidentally knocked the propeller. Senior Constable Nathan Conelius says the pilot had been in the process of preparing the aircraft to be taxied to another area when he exited the aircraft and accidentally knocked the propeller, causing the engine to start.

"The plane's moved forward at full speed for about 20 metres before it's collided with the rear of another Cessna, which caused extensive damage to the tail and wing of that plane.

"The collision sent debris flying over an area about the size of a football field."

He says the damaged plane is a write-off.

The pilot was breath-tested but returned a negative alcohol reading.

The Australian Transport and Safety Bureau was notified but the bureau says it is unlikely to investigate the matter further.

"We're satisfied that it was just a simple accident and we won't be taking the matter any further," Senior Constable Conelius said.

[Kilo-Kilo]

That's too pricey a plane to be a total write-off. It just needs a wing and empenage.

[Sasquash]

DUCT TAPES !!!!

[iflyforpie]

Whether it flies again will depend on the insurance company and what they will take for salvage. Serviceable wings and tail feathers are hard to come by since most are damaged in typical donor aircraft (this level of damage cannot be repaired), plus all the tin work on the aft fuselage would wind up being a very expensive adventure.

Compared to selling the engine, prop, avionics, and getting a salvager to sit on the airframe for a parts bird.

[. ._]

I'm not an AME, but how does an engine start up and go "full speed" by just knocking the prop?

With the mags off and mixture idle cut-off and throttle at idle, can this happen? Maybe with a live mag or something?

Forgive my ignorance. I'm a 250 hour wonder.

-istp

[SeptRepair]

"Senior Constable Nathan Conelius says the pilot had been in the process of preparing the aircraft to be taxied to another area when he exited the aircraft and accidentally knocked the propeller, causing the engine to start." Hmmmmmmm Maybe this guy was on his way to Darwin to pick up his award.

[twinpratts]

Munch munch munch

[2R]

Sheeit muthaphukaa that looks like it will fly again .
It would pass my walk around to get the ham out of shamtown

[trey kule]

I'm not an AME, but how does an engine start up and go "full speed" by just knocking the prop?

It does it right after the incident if you are quick thinking. Dont worry about your inexperience. You too, will learn to lie.

[Dagwood]

"We're satisfied that it was just a simple accident and we won't be taking the matter any further,"

a simple accident?

Pilot apologizes and life carries on... sounds like SMS at work.

[Kilo-Kilo]

On another note:

My dad always taught me to put the keys on the dash so you could see them through the windshield when pulling the prop to pre-oil the engine, thus confirming the mags are off. If you can't see the keys, don't throw the prop.

[The Old Fogducker]

"We're satisfied that it was just a simple accident and we won't be taking the matter any further,"

a simple accident?

Pilot apologizes and life carries on... sounds like SMS at work.

Yes Dagwood, he feels sorry, so that makes it all OK with the world around him.

Now if the owner of the airplane said he was going to file a law suit to recover his losses, people here would be jumping all over the owner about being a greedy piece of scum by suing for the money.

Afterall, the guy feels badly about it ... isn't that enough?

OFD

[Meatloaf]

I've always wondered what the inside of a 206 wing looked like.

[Kilo-Kilo]

Serviceable wings and tail feathers are hard to come by since most are damaged in typical donor aircraft (this level of damage cannot be repaired), plus all the tin work on the aft fuselage would wind up being a very expensive adventure.

Skywagon-city in Ontario has two 206's on Barnstormers being parted out. If you could get an empenage from the first serviceable bulkhead back, I'm sure it would be cost effective. Plus the wing, of course.

Just armchair airplane building.

[Heliian]

Yeeesss. Since insurance wouldn't cover a hand swinging screw up he said he "bumped it". Lots of planes written off this way. The best one I heard of was a 185 on floats that wouldn't batt. start and as the sole pilot was hand swinging he fell off the float and the a/c ended up accross the lake in the rocks and trees. So if you're stuck, call someone to help. You could try to repair that damage but that plane looks like every other dirty private cessna out there. Not worth the hassle. If you own an a/c, take better care of it, it'll last longer and cost less in the long run. How much do you think a new battery or starter costs compared to all this damage? doi!

[iflyforpie]

If you could get an empenage from the first serviceable bulkhead back, I'm sure it would be cost effective. Plus the wing, of course.

That's the real trick isn't it? I didn't say that it wasn't worth making airworthy again. Just as far as the insurance company is concerned it is not worth their investment to make it airworthy, though they might sell the hulk to somebody who wants to do a scavenger hunt and do a few hundred hours of tin work, assembly, and rigging.

I rebuilt a 207 that was just worn out and the project wound up barely breaking even (even though it was worth $200K when done, more than a similar vintage wheeled 206). Planes are very good at absorbing money.

[Invertago]

Hmmmm, bumped it and it went full blast down the taxi way...

[higherthenakite]

I know some guy that flew a 206 and after they shut down they put the mixture and throttle in so people getting out of the passenger seat won't hit them or bend them with their knee. I don't know if this is a common thing that is done on the 206 but that could explain why it went rolling at full speed.

HTAK

[. ._]

Something tells me that's not in the POH. But I'll say again:

I'm a 250 hour wonder. I don't know squat.

-istp

[charlo]

I know some guy that flew a 206 and after they shut down they put the mixture and throttle in so people getting out of the passenger seat won't hit them or bend them with their knee. I don't know if this is a common thing that is done on the 206 but that could explain why it went rolling at full speed.

HTAK

When I took my float rating last summer on a 206, the guys there were doing the same thing for the very same reason ! So I guess it's not a good idea ?

[Fredster]

wow ! i'd buy the writeoff for parts though !

[iflyforpie]

I know some guy that flew a 206 and after they shut down they put the mixture and throttle in so people getting out of the passenger seat won't hit them or bend them with their knee. I don't know if this is a common thing that is done on the 206 but that could explain why it went rolling at full speed.

HTAK

I've flown plenty of fatties in the 206 and the thought never even occurred to me to do this. Never been a problem for bent controls. Now bent seats....

[Fredster]

i say the dude wanted the insurance money ! lol

[Kilo-Kilo]

i say the dude wanted the insurance money ! lol

I know some guy that flew a 206 and after they shut down they put the mixture and throttle in so people getting out of the passenger seat won't hit them or bend them with their knee. I don't know if this is a common thing that is done on the 206 but that could explain why it went rolling at full speed.

HTAK

Uh guys, those are photos of the victim aircraft (cessna 206), not the culprit. If it was for the insurance money then I'll just say, "Worst insurance fraud...ever!"