What happened
On November 13, 2018, a Piper PA-44-180T Seminole, registration SP-MIS, was performing a training flight in the vicinity of EPMO airport. The aircraft was being operated under a rental agreement with Salt Aviation. Following a landing at 10:35 LMT, the pilot and a passenger (who is also a pilot) were taxiing the aircraft when it veered off the right side of the taxiway.
The pilot immediately corrected the course and returned the aircraft to the center of the taxiway. After verifying that all engine parameters remained within normal operating limits, the pilot proceeded to the parking stand. A subsequent post-flight inspection revealed that the propeller tips of the left engine had sustained damage. Additionally, an inspection by the airport duty officer confirmed that the aircraft had struck and damaged an edge light on taxiway A2.
The investigation
The investigation examined the pilot's actions and the technical condition of the aircraft. The aircraft was inspected by the maintenance organization Salt Aviation, which determined that the propeller required replacement. Following the technical manual requirements, the engine was inspected for any damage resulting from the propeller strike; the engine was found to be undamaged and was cleared for continued operation.
Findings
- The primary cause of the incident was the pilot's improper distribution of attention within the cockpit during taxiing, specifically focusing on cockpit instruments rather than the taxiway.
- The aircraft's propeller tips were damaged due to the excursion from the taxiway.