Incident Overview
During a night taxi in visual meteorological conditions, a pilot of a general aviation airplane collided with a helicopter dolly that was unlit and unmarked. The accident occurred after landing, as the pilot taxied toward a fixed based operator (FBO) and entered a general aviation parking ramp.
Sequence of Events
The pilot had just landed and was moving the airplane toward the parking area. Upon entering the ramp, the right main landing gear struck a helicopter dolly that was positioned on the ramp. The dolly was not illuminated and had no markings that would have made it visible in the low-light conditions.
Damage
The impact caused the right main landing gear to collapse. The right wing deformed when it contacted the pavement, and a fuel leak resulted from the damage. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures of the airplane prior to or during the event.
Pilot and Inspector Reports
The pilot stated that he did not see the dolly before the collision. Both the pilot and a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector who responded to the scene confirmed that the helicopter dolly was unlit and unmarked, contributing to its lack of visibility on the ramp.