Incident Description
A ground incident occurred during deicing operations involving a company Boeing 757-200. After completing deicing procedures, the driver of the deicing truck maneuvered the vehicle in a manner that caused the deicing basket boom to impact the trailing edge of the aircraft's left aileron. The boom penetrated the aileron to a depth of nearly two feet and damaged its spar.
The investigation determined that while backing out from a position behind the aircraft's left wing, the driver inadvertently turned the steering wheel in a direction that caused the boom—mounted on the back end of the truck—to converge on the trailing edge of the aileron. No other contributing factors were identified.
Damage Assessment
The impact resulted in a penetration of the aileron structure and damage to the internal spar. The extent of the damage required repair before the aircraft could return to service. The operator did not disclose the cost or duration of the repairs.
Investigation Findings
The investigation focused on the driver's actions during the backing maneuver. The inadvertent steering input led to the boom striking the aileron. There was no indication of mechanical failure or environmental factors. The driver's error was the sole identified cause of the incident.