Incident Overview
On pushback from the gate, a deHavilland aircraft collided with a parked and unoccupied Bombardier CL-65. The elevator of the CL-65 sliced through the rudder of the deHavilland. The collision occurred when a ground agent, tasked with pushing the deHavilland from the gate, did not clear the 30-foot turn line. He then pushed the tail of the deHavilland into the CL-65, resulting in the damage.
Pushback Details
The ground agent was operating the pushback of the deHavilland from its gate position. During the procedure, the agent failed to ensure that the required 30-foot turn line was clear of obstacles. As he maneuvered the aircraft, the tail swung into the parked CL-65. The contact caused the CL-65's elevator to cut through the deHavilland's rudder, creating a hole.
Operator Comments
In discussing the incident, the operator of the deHavilland expressed that the accident could have been prevented if the ground agent had watched the wing walkers during the pushback and cleared the turn line before turning the aircraft. The operator's statement highlights the importance of proper communication and adherence to safety procedures during ground handling.