What happened
On August 19, 2013, during the 38th Polish Glider Championships at the EPRU aerodrome, a PZL 104 Wilga 35A was involved in a ground incident while taxiing to the takeoff point. The aircraft was taxiing from its base near the glider hangars toward the grass runway. Because the standard concrete taxiway was obstructed by other parked aircraft, the pilot opted to taxi through an area containing abandoned glider parking stands. The pilot had observed a Cessna C152 using this same path minutes earlier, which led to the assumption that the route was clear.
During the maneuver, the aircraft's propeller struck a metal glider wing support stand left in the parking area, severing one of the stand's legs. Although the pilot noticed the impact, they incorrectly assumed the vibration was caused by the landing gear hitting uneven ground. After taxiing to the takeoff grid, the pilot performed a standard engine run-up and detected no engine anomalies. It was only after being informed by witnesses that the propeller had struck an object that an inspection was conducted. The inspection revealed chipping and damage to the leading edge metal fitting of one propeller blade, approximately 15 cm from the tip.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the pilot's decision-making regarding the taxi route and the environmental conditions at the aerodrome. Investigators examined the path taken by the aircraft and the presence of obstacles in the abandoned glider stands. The investigation also considered the pressure to maintain the competition schedule and the visibility constraints inherent to the aircraft type.
Findings
- The primary cause of the incident was the failure to check the taxi route for obstacles before proceeding through the abandoned glider parking area.
- Contributing factors included the lack of an alternative taxi route due to the concrete path being blocked by other aircraft.
- The lack of clear demarcation between the aircraft parking area and the glider stands increased the risk of encountering obstructions.
- Pressure to expedite glider towing for the competition encouraged hurried operations.
- Limited forward visibility from the cockpit of the PZL 104 Wilga 35A hindered the pilot's ability to detect small objects on the ground.