What happened
On 26 February 2014, an ATR 72-202, registration EI-FXG, was involved in a ground collision at Shannon Airport during a cargo operation. The aircraft, acting as a 'hot-spare' for a scheduled flight, had been positioned at a parking area adjacent to the East Apron hangar.
Following engine start and under the guidance of ground personnel, the crew began taxiing. To follow the designated lead-out line, the pilot initiated a right turn. During this maneuver, the left wing-tip of the aircraft made contact with the metal cladding of the hangar. The impact caused minor damage to the aircraft's navigation light lens cover and the outboard leading edge of the wing, while also damaging the hangar's external structure. There were no injuries to the two crew members or the ground staff involved.
The investigation
The investigation established that the parking area in question was specifically approved for ATR 42 aircraft, which have a smaller wingspan. Because the flight plan had not been updated to reflect the substitution of the larger ATR 72-202, Air Traffic Control (ATC) was unaware of the change in aircraft type and cleared the aircraft to the stand normally used by the smaller variant.
Investigators found that the aircraft had been towed into a position that left insufficient clearance for the wider wingspan of the ATR 72-202. Furthermore, the pilot was unaware that the specific stand was prohibited for use by this larger aircraft type. The investigation also noted that the ground crew's ability to provide guidance was hampered by the confined space and poor visibility due to rain and darkness.
Findings
- The parking area was not suitable for the wingspan of an ATR 72-202.
- Insufficient wing-tip clearance existed due to the aircraft's parked position and the inherent size difference between the ATR 42 and ATR 72.
- The change in aircraft type was not communicated to ATC because the repetitive flight plan was not updated.
- The lack of awareness regarding the restrictions on using that specific stand for larger aircraft was not sufficiently communicated to all operational personnel.
- Adverse weather and low-light conditions contributed to the difficulty of the maneuvering task.