Warroad International Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Warroad, Minnesota 56763
Sunday, November 26, 2006 12:00 CST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The propeller struck a person preparing to hand-prop the engine. The pilot stated that the cranking power of the airplane's battery was diminished because the airplane had been parked outside for an extended time in below freezing temperatures. The pilot was not able to get the engine started using the electric starter. The pilot reported that when the accident occurred he was seated in the airplane operating the engine controls. The pilot stated that the magnetos were off and the mixture lever was positioned at idle-cutoff. The pilot reported that as the individual positioned the propeller for the maximum leverage it "snapped [back]" due to cylinder compression and struck the person in the head.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The propeller striking the individual who was positioning the propeller in anticipation of hand-propping the engine.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 11/26/2006
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1200
Event Time Zone Central Standard Time
Event City Warroad
Event State MINNESOTA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 56763
Event Date Year 2006
Event Date Month 11
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 485629N
Event Location Longitude 0952054W
Event Location Airport Warroad International Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID RRT
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 1074
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1155 Central Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID RRD
Elevation of weather observation facility 1074
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation CST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 1700
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions --
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) -7
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -11
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 30
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 10
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.26
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries 1
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious 1
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 21698
NTSB Notification Source FAA
NTSB Notification Date Nov 27 2006 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Jun 27 2007 1:15PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\lema
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Federal Aviation Administration Minneapolis FSDO

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N380SP
NTSB Number CHI07CA027
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage None
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Cessna
Aircraft Model 172S
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 172S8774
Certified Max Gross Weight 2550
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Nov 1 2006 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 2017.4
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Airlake Airwerx, LLC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Farmington
Aircraft Owner State --
Aircraft Owner Country --
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 55024
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name --
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City --
Operator State --
Operator Country --
Operator Zip code --
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code RRT
Departure City Warroad
Departure State MN
Departure Country USA
Departure Time --
Departure Time Zone CST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code LVN
Destination City Lakeville
Destination State MN
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Standing - starting engine(s)
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record May 30 2007 8:50AM
User who most recently changed record SULP
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location NA
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --