Occurrence
On 14 March 2023 at 14:24 local time, an Airbus A320-200, registered 9H-WBV and operated by WizzAir Malta, was involved in a collision on the apron of Suceava International Airport. The aircraft was scheduled to perform a commercial flight from Suceava to Dortmund. The pilot-in-command occupied the left seat as Pilot Monitoring, and the co-pilot occupied the right seat as Pilot Flying, responsible for maneuvering.
Before engine start, the pilot-in-command conducted an external safety check, assessing the proximity of a parked aircraft to the left. Two ground controllers assisted the taxi: one positioned on the front left side visible to the pilot-in-command, and another at the top of the left wing to monitor clearance.
The aircraft began taxiing under the guidance of the dispatcher, with the co-pilot executing the maneuver. At the dispatcher's indication, the aircraft was stopped briefly for reassessment of the safety distance. After the dispatcher returned, taxiing resumed. Shortly afterward, the left winglet of 9H-WBV struck the right elevator of the parked aircraft, an Airbus A320-200 registered HA-LWZ.
The collision resulted in damage to the left winglet of 9H-WBV and the right elevator of HA-LWZ. The engines were shut down, and all 176 passengers disembarked safely using stairs.
Aircraft Information
The aircraft involved was an Airbus A320-200, registration 9H-WBV, owned by WizzAir and operated by WizzAir Malta. Its airworthiness certificate was valid. The aircraft was equipped with a tricycle landing gear and a steerable nose wheel controlled by a manual steering wheel (within +/-75°) or rudder (within +/-6°). The wingspan of the A320 is 36 meters.
The parked aircraft, HA-LWZ, was also an Airbus A320-200.
Analysis and Findings
At the time of the incident, both aircraft were parked on apron positions 2 and 4, which are designated for aircraft with a wingspan of up to 29 meters. The A320's wingspan of 36 meters made these positions unsuitable, and ground guidance markings were ineffective. Positions 5 and 6, intended for larger aircraft, were occupied by a state aircraft.
During taxi, the co-pilot, who was maneuvering, did not have visual contact with the main ground controller. Communications between crew members regarding the position of the left wing tip relative to the parked aircraft were terse and inconclusive. The report suggests that during the stop, the front wheel turning angle may have decreased, causing the resumption of taxi to involve a small straight movement instead of continuing on the circular trajectory.
Findings include:
- Suceava airport lacked towing means (tow bar) for Airbus A320 aircraft at the time.
- Parking positions 2 and 4 were not intended for aircraft with wingspan greater than 29 m.