Summary
On 3 June 2013, an incident occurred at Warsaw Chopin Airport (WAW) during pre-flight ground handling of a Bombardier DHC-8-400. A baggage belt loader operator drove the vehicle into the aircraft, causing damage to the threshold of the rear cargo door. The aircraft was subsequently taken out of service for repair, and the scheduled flight was performed using a different aircraft. Four persons were on board at the time; none sustained injuries.
Incident Details
According to the investigation report by the Polish State Commission for Aircraft Accident Investigation (PKBWL), the incident took place while the aircraft was being serviced before departure. The belt loader, used for loading baggage, collided with the aircraft structure, specifically the area around the rear cargo door threshold. The impact resulted in damage that necessitated the aircraft's removal from operational service until repairs could be completed.
Probable Cause
The investigation concluded that the most probable cause of the incident was the operator of the belt loader failing to maintain proper attention during the ground handling operation.
Aftermath and Safety Measures
The operator responsible for investigating the incident, LS Airport Services, did not submit a report of their findings to the PKBWL. Consequently, no information is available regarding any preventive measures that may have been implemented. The commission did not formulate any safety recommendations in connection with this incident.