Trainee pilot on government small transport inadvertently throws the engine start switches when he m...

Attributes
ACN	136076
Time
Date	199002
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : eug
State Reference	OR
Altitude	agl bound lower : 200 agl bound upper : 1000
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : eug
Operator	other
Make Model Name	Small Transport, Low Wing, 2 Turboprop Eng
Flight Phase	climbout : initial
Route In Use	departure other
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	government other
Function	instruction : instructor oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 20 flight time total : 13000 flight time type : 300
ASRS Report	136076
Person 2
Affiliation	government other
Function	instruction : trainee
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 50 flight time total : 10000 flight time type : 3
ASRS Report	136077
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : overcame equipment problem
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

I was the ip during transition training from the small transport model a to the small transport model B. On an IFR departure from eug, we encountered moderate rain immediately after takeoff. I instructed the trnee pilot to extend the ice vanes. The 2 switches for the vanes are adjacent to the 2 engine start switches and the trnee inadvertently placed both start switches to 'on,' causing loss of gen power. We remained VFR and circled airport to enter a downwind to runway 16 at eug. After perhaps 2 mins we were able to determine the problem and correct it. With all systems functioning normally, we obtained another clearance and proceeded to redmond, or. The error was a simple one. Unfortunately, the check pilot cannot see the start or ice vane switches from the right side of the cockpit. I was watching for the annunciator lights as indications of fully extended vanes. However, at that same time, we began to experience complete electrical failure. Consideration should be given to spring load the start switches so that they cannot be inadvertently left on or activated.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: TRAINEE PLT ON GOV SMT INADVERTENTLY THROWS THE ENGINE START SWITCHES WHEN HE MEANT TO ACTIVATE THE ICE VANES, RESULTING IN ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILURE WHILE DEPARTING EUG.

Narrative: I WAS THE IP DURING TRANSITION TRNING FROM THE SMT MODEL A TO THE SMT MODEL B. ON AN IFR DEP FROM EUG, WE ENCOUNTERED MODERATE RAIN IMMEDIATELY AFTER TKOF. I INSTRUCTED THE TRNEE PLT TO EXTEND THE ICE VANES. THE 2 SWITCHES FOR THE VANES ARE ADJACENT TO THE 2 ENG START SWITCHES AND THE TRNEE INADVERTENTLY PLACED BOTH START SWITCHES TO 'ON,' CAUSING LOSS OF GEN PWR. WE REMAINED VFR AND CIRCLED ARPT TO ENTER A DOWNWIND TO RWY 16 AT EUG. AFTER PERHAPS 2 MINS WE WERE ABLE TO DETERMINE THE PROB AND CORRECT IT. WITH ALL SYSTEMS FUNCTIONING NORMALLY, WE OBTAINED ANOTHER CLRNC AND PROCEEDED TO REDMOND, OR. THE ERROR WAS A SIMPLE ONE. UNFORTUNATELY, THE CHK PLT CANNOT SEE THE START OR ICE VANE SWITCHES FROM THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE COCKPIT. I WAS WATCHING FOR THE ANNUNCIATOR LIGHTS AS INDICATIONS OF FULLY EXTENDED VANES. HOWEVER, AT THAT SAME TIME, WE BEGAN TO EXPERIENCE COMPLETE ELECTRICAL FAILURE. CONSIDERATION SHOULD BE GIVEN TO SPRING LOAD THE START SWITCHES SO THAT THEY CANNOT BE INADVERTENTLY LEFT ON OR ACTIVATED.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.

Trainee pilot on government small transport inadvertently throws the engine start switches when he meant to activate the ice vanes, resulting in electrical system failure while departing eug.