What happened
On June 3, 2013, an incident occurred during pre-flight ground operations at Warsaw (WAW) involving a Bombardier DHC-8-400. While the aircraft was being serviced prior to departure, a driver operating a baggage conveyor belt collided with the aircraft. The impact resulted in damage to the threshold of the rear cargo door.
As a result of the damage, the aircraft was removed from service and remained grounded until necessary repairs could be completed. The scheduled flight was subsequently operated using a different aircraft.
The investigation
The investigation, conducted by LS Airport Services, focused on the ground handling maneuvers during the pre-flight phase. The inquiry established the sequence of events leading to the contact between the ground support equipment and the aircraft structure.
Findings
- The primary cause of the incident was the failure of the conveyor belt operator to maintain adequate attention during ground operations.