What happened
On June 5, 2012, a Bombardier DHC-8-402, registration G-JEDR, was performing a scheduled public transport flight at Waterford Airport (EIWT). After arriving from Birmingham, the aircraft was cleared by Air Traffic Control to back-track on Runway 21 to prepare for a return flight.
As the crew approached the runway threshold, they utilized the available turn pad to execute a 180-degree turn. During this maneuver, the aircraft's right main wheel drifted off the pavement and into an adjacent gravel area. The aircraft came to a halt, and the crew found the plane stuck in the soft ground. There were no injuries to the four crew members or the 59 passengers, and the aircraft sustained no damage.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the lack of visual cues on the turn pad and the maneuvering process. The pilot, performing his first flight to this airport, noted that the runway was wet and that the crew could not see any yellow guidance or lead-in lines on the turn pad. The only visible markings were faint dashed lines and red survey dots.
Investigators found that the turn pad's diameter was approximately 50 meters, which was more than sufficient for the aircraft's turning radius. However, because the airport's taxiways and apron are notably tight, the pilot attempted to hug the edge of the pavement to maximize the available takeoff distance. Due to the pilot's position in the left-hand seat, judging the exact position of the right-hand wheels was difficult, especially without proper pavement markings.
Findings
- The primary cause of the excursion was the absence of required runway turn pad guidance markings.
- The pilot's attempt to stay close to the pavement edge, driven by a lack of information regarding the pad's true dimensions, led to the wheel leaving the paved surface.
- The pilot's ability to monitor the right-hand side of the aircraft was impaired by his position in the left-hand cockpit seat.
- The airport had delayed the installation of new markings following recent runway resurfacing works, leaving the turn pad without compliant guidance lines.
Safety action
- It is recommended that Waterford Airport implement turn pad guidance lines that comply with ICAO Annex 14 standards.