History of the Occurrence
On 29 July 2019, at approximately 08:45 local time, a Tecnam P2008-JC registered YR-MDY, operated by the Romanian Aviation Academy, was involved in a serious incident at G. V. Bibescu Aerodrome in Ploiești, Romania. The aircraft had just completed a training flight with an instructor and another student on board. After landing, it taxied to parking position B1 on the platform in front of the hangar. The instructor remained on board after engine shutdown.
The student pilot then boarded the left-hand cockpit seat. According to the student's statement, the instructor informed him they would perform two or three traffic circuits in dual control, followed by a solo flight. The student completed the before-engine-start checklist, contacted the control tower for engine start permission, and started the engine.
After engine start, the instructor left the aircraft to use the restroom, asking the student to wait for his return. About two minutes later, a member of the technical team approached the aircraft and, using non-standard hand gestures, requested the student to move the aircraft from B1 to parking position C4 because another landing aircraft needed B1. The student closed the right-hand door (left open by the instructor) and began taxiing.
During taxi, the student pilot did not ensure adequate clearance between the left wing and a metallic protection of a fuel tank located at the edge of the platform. The left wing struck the obstacle at approximately one-quarter of the wingspan from the tip. No ground dispatcher guided the movement.
After the impact, the student shut down the engine and exited the aircraft safely. No injuries were recorded. The aircraft sustained damage to the leading edge of the left wing, which was later replaced.
Additional Information
Pilot Information
The student pilot had logged 19 hours and 24 minutes of total flight time, including two hours of solo flight, and had performed 84 landings.
Aircraft Information
The aircraft, a Tecnam P2008-JC with serial number 1084 (manufactured in 2017), was registered in Romania as YR-MDY. It was owned and operated by the Romanian Aviation Academy. The aircraft had a valid flight authorization and had accumulated 990 total flight hours.
Aerodrome Information
G. V. Bibescu Aerodrome is a certified aerodrome located about 5 km from Ploiești. It features a paved runway (08/26) measuring 750 m by 30 m, and a grass runway (09/27) measuring 790 m by 30 m, both at an elevation of 175 m. The platform in front of the hangar is 87 m long and 50 m wide, with five parking positions (B1, B2, B3, C4, C5).
Organization and Management Information
At the time of the incident, an operational procedure titled “Guiding the aircrafts to the parking positions” was in effect at the aerodrome. This procedure specified that aircraft departure from parking positions should be assisted and directed by technical personnel using signs and signals. However, on the date of the occurrence, the Technical Department personnel had not received ground dispatcher qualification. In March 2020, all technical personnel of the Romanian Aviation Academy obtained the qualification.
No internal procedure addressed whether leaving the aircraft after engine start was permitted for student pilots or instructors.
Analysis
The investigation commission determined that the aviation mechanic, lacking ground dispatcher qualification, requested the student pilot to reposition the aircraft using non-standard signs. The mechanic did not monitor the movement to ensure safety. The student pilot chose to taxi unguided in a straight line from B1 to C4 and then make a right-hand turn, rather than following a safer path. The instructor, who had signed the aircraft logbook and was responsible for its operation, left the aircraft with the engine running without instructing the student to shut down. The student was not authorized to move the aircraft without the instructor onboard.
Conclusions
Findings
1. The aircraft held a valid Airworthiness Certificate. 2. The student pilot had 19:24 flight hours and 84 landings. 3. Technical staff lacked ground dispatcher qualification at the time. 4. The instructor left the aircraft after engine start without asking the student to shut down. 5. The student pilot attempted to move the aircraft unguided and unsupervised. 6. In March 2020, all technical staff obtained ground dispatcher qualification.
Causes of the Accident
The cause of the accident was the lack of attention given to the obstacles from the platform, during unguided taxiing for repositioning the aircraft.