Fuel Cap Left Unsecured on Fokker 100 at Warsaw Chopin Airport

Casualties unknown • EPWA, PL

A Fokker 100 aircraft was prevented from departing Warsaw Chopin Airport after a fuel filler cap was discovered missing during ground operations.

What happened

On April 26, 2012, a Fokker 100 was involved in a ground incident during pre-flight operations at Warsaw Chopin Airport (WAW). After the aircraft had completed its taxi instructions for takeoff, a ground movement coordinator was checking the availability of the stand when they discovered that the fuel filler cap had not been replaced.

Upon discovery, the Tower (TWR) was notified, and the aircraft's taxiing was immediately halted. The crew subsequently returned the aircraft to its parking stand, where the cap was properly installed. Following a full aircraft inspection, the aircraft was cleared to proceed with its taxi for departure.

The investigation

The PKBWL investigation focused on the sequence of events leading from the completion of refueling to the discovery of the unsecured cap. The investigation examined the ground handling procedures and the crew's pre-flight inspection protocols to determine why the fuel cap remained unsecured during the taxi phase.

Probable cause

The incident was caused by the failure to secure the fuel filler cap after refueling and a negligent pre-flight inspection by the flight crew.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 2012-04-26 Fokker 100 accident near EPWA, PL?

A Fokker 100 aircraft was prevented from departing Warsaw Chopin Airport after a fuel filler cap was discovered missing during ground operations.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 2012-04-26 involved a Fokker 100, at EPWA, PL.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The incident was caused by the failure to secure the fuel filler cap after refueling and a negligent pre-flight inspection by the flight crew.

Investigation report by the Polish State Commission on Aircraft Accidents Investigation (PKBWL). Original record: https://pkbwl.gov.pl/raporty/2012-0338/. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the Panstwowa Komisja Badania Wypadkow Lotniczych (PKBWL), Poland.

Loading the flight search…

What you can do on Flight Finder

  • Search flights between any two airports with live fares.
  • By aircraft — pick a plane model (e.g. Boeing 787, Airbus A350) and see every route it flies from your origin.
  • Route map — click any airport worldwide to explore its destinations, or draw a radius to find nearby airports.
  • Global aviation safety — aviation accident database, 40,000+ records since 1980, with map and rankings by aircraft and operator.
  • NTSB safety feed — recent U.S. aviation accidents and incidents from the official NTSB CAROL database, updated daily.