Personally I think the student has been poorly taught.
The route I take with them is.......
Up to first solo, I'm always on board for any start and taxi, even if it is only to the gas pumps.
I really question the instructional techniques of the FI involved. I drum it into my students to keep one hand on the throttle throughout starting. For me this is basic stuff that could of prevented this accident.
I also question the student starting then the FI jumping in with the fan going. This is bad practice IMO for a number of reasons;
1) I ALWAYS double check the oil and fuel before departure, this can't be done safely with the fan going.
2) I like to have a couple of minutes in the cockpit before starting to have a quick chat to go over the main points of the lesson.
3) So the student starts whilst the FI is finishing his coffee, FI gets distracted and the student sits there for 10 mins with the Hobbs ticking over, whilst FI pulls his finger out. This might be good for the school but not very polite to the students wallet.
Personally I'd make the FI pay the excess for being a poor instructor
