Incident Description
On October 18, 2021, at about 1616 eastern daylight time, a Beech 200, registration N996LM, was taxiing for departure from Mount Pleasant Regional Airport – Faison Field (LRO) in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, when its right wingtip contacted a parked fuel truck. The aircraft, operated by Austin Aviation as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 135 on-demand air taxi flight, was destined for Columbia Metro Airport (CAE). The two pilots and six passengers on board were not injured.
According to the pilot, a fuel truck was parked less than 20 feet from the center line taxiway marking on the ramp apron to his right. No safety markings, cones, marshaling assistance, or warnings were provided by the fixed base operator. As the pilot began moving, he noticed a small single-engine airplane pulling into the adjacent parking spot to his left. While making a left turn, the single-engine airplane continued inching forward, causing the pilot to hesitate and shallow his turn to avoid contact with the other aircraft's propeller, which was about 6 feet from his left wingtip. This hesitation and a few feet of movement resulted in the right wingtip striking the fuel truck.
Damage
The pilot reported that the right wingtip contacted a ladder handle on the fuel truck, shearing off the outboard 2-foot section at the rivet line. The third outboard aileron anchor point, attached to the wingtip assembly, was also sheared, leaving the aileron loose but still attached by the other two hinge points. The aircraft was substantially damaged.
Aircraft and Parking Information
Review of security camera footage indicated that the accident pilot had parked the Beech between two designated parking spaces, with its left wing over one space, right wing over another, and tail in the space behind. The single-engine airplane parked normally on the intended yellow parking “T” and remained clear of the Beech during boarding. The single-engine airplane’s engine had been shut down for about 12 seconds when the Beech made its left turn. The Beech traveled about 111.7 feet during the taxi-out before striking the fuel truck, at a maximum calculated speed of 18.6 feet per second (about 12.7 mph).
Previous Inspection and Operational Context
On December 11, 2020, the South Carolina Aeronautics Commission inspected the apron and identified four inspection issues: three related to obscured/dirty/faded taxi lane markings, and one concerning the fuel truck being within 50 feet of a building. According to a Line Service Technician, larger aircraft like the Beech were typically instructed to park on the middle taxiway line or at the north end of the ramp, not in front of the FBO terminal, due to safety concerns. The accident pilot had been to LRO many times over the previous year and had been advised of parking procedures, but in the 2 to 3 months before the accident, he had occasionally pulled through tiedown spots reserved for smaller aircraft.
Aftermath
Following the accident, the Charleston County Airport Authority implemented several safety enhancements, including adding information to the Electronic Chart Supplements and Airport Facility Directory entries for LRO, noting restrictions for aircraft with wingspans greater than 38 feet, and improving taxiway and apron pavement markings.