BFO87LA045

Factual narrative

WHEN THE AIRCRAFT FAILED TO START THE PILOT SET THE THROTTLE, INSURED THE AIRCRAFT WAS TIED DOWN AND ATTEMPTED TO START THE AIRCRAFT BY HAND PROPPING. THE AIRCRAFT STARTED IMMEDIATELY, BROKE BOTH TIE-DOWN ROPES, TRAVELED ACROSS THE FIELD INTO A DITCH AND SUBSTANED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. THE TIE-DOWN ROPES WERE MADE OF POLYPROPYLENE AND HAD WEAKENED WITH YEARSOF EXPOSURE TO THE SUN. THEY HAVE BEEN REPLACED WITH NYLON 3/8 INCH TIE-DOWN ROPES. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12