Incident Overview
On 25 October 2017, at approximately 09:30 local time, the aerodrome duty officer at Łódź Airport (EPLL) discovered mechanical damage to the left wingtip of a parked Cessna 172 aircraft, registration D-EEBD, during a routine inspection of the grassy aircraft parking area. The damage was observed after the passage of storm front Ksawery.
Reporting and Investigation
The aircraft owner/operator, Sky Life, was notified of the incident. Sky Life conducted an investigation and issued a final report on 15 November 2017. The aerodrome duty officer had taken photographic documentation of the damage.
Possible Causes Considered
The investigation considered several hypothetical causes:
- Contact with grass-mowing equipment on the airport surface.
- The opposite wing's tie-down strap becoming detached from its anchor or the anchor being pulled out of the ground during strong wind gusts, though no such occurrence was recorded.
- Intentional damage by unauthorized persons.
Investigation Outcome
The final report from Sky Life stated that the damage mark did not match any of these hypotheses. The case was closed with a focus on preventive measures rather than determining a definitive cause.
Preventive Actions Taken by the Operator
- The aircraft is now hangared.
- Tie-downs have been doubled and improved.
- Covers have been applied to certain airframe components.
Safety Recommendations
No safety recommendations were issued by the State Commission on Aircraft Accident Investigation (PKBWL).
Meteorological Conditions
According to the final report, weather conditions likely had no influence on the event.