Incident Overview
On 9 November 2011, at approximately 12:30 local time (10:30 UTC), a CT-LS ultralight aircraft, registration D-MDMY, was damaged by the rotor wash of an IAR 330 Puma helicopter (military registration 108) during a landing procedure on the apron of Tulcea Airport. The ultralight was parked on the apron shoulder near ground service equipment, an area not designated for aircraft parking. At the time of the incident, the ultralight was not anchored or secured, and its pilot was not onboard but standing in front of the terminal.
Aircraft Damage
According to the ultralight pilot's statement, the aircraft sustained the following damage:
- A split at the tip of the right wing.
- Peeling of the protective foil on one propeller blade.
- A crack in the nose wheel fairing.
The aircraft was declared unserviceable and scheduled for repairs.
Sequence of Events
The helicopter was directed by the ground control tower (CTA) to land directly on the apron. Concurrently, navigation equipment flight checks were in progress on the runway, necessitating the helicopter's direct apron landing. The ultralight was parked in an area obscured from the helicopter crew's view by ground service vehicles. The helicopter crew had a clear view of an unobstructed apron and could not see the ultralight, which was positioned outside the designated aircraft parking area. The ultralight had been prepared for a planned flight with a 13:00 departure; it was unsecured and the pilot had moved to the terminal.
Meteorological Conditions
Weather conditions were CAVOK. Wind direction at the time of the incident was 310 degrees at 18 knots, with a crosswind component of 8 knots, as determined from radio communication analysis.
Findings
The investigation commission identified the following: 1. The ultralight was parked in the ground service equipment parking area, unsecured, with the pilot absent. 2. The ultralight was lifted by the ground effect generated by the helicopter's rotor system, amplified by wind intensity. 3. The helicopter crew was not informed and could not have observed the ultralight parked outside the main apron area. 4. The airport did not have specific procedures or designated spaces for helicopter operations.
Causes of the Incident
The investigation stated the incident was caused by:
- The combined effect of rotor-induced ground effect and wind on an unanchored ultralight aircraft.
- The conduct of helicopter operations at an airport lacking specific procedures and published designated spaces for such operations.
Recommendations
- The Romanian Civil Aeronautical Authority (AACR) should mandate that all authorized aerodromes establish specific procedures for helicopter operations and update information published in the Romanian AIP.
- The Romanian Aero Club should disseminate this report to all ultralight aircraft operators.