What happened
On February 28, 2026, a Diamond Da42 Twin Star, registration OE-FSB, operated by LUSOFLY Academy, was involved in a ground collision at Ponte de Sor Aerodrome (LPSO), Portugal. The flight was a general aviation training mission involving an examiner and a student pilot.
Earlier that day, the aircraft had been grounded due to a recurring "ECU A FAIL" error in the right engine. After maintenance released the aircraft for service, the crew began ground engine tests. During taxiing from apron NE03 toward the air traffic information tower via apron E0/2, the examiner was attempting to evaluate the engine malfunction. During this process, the right wingtip of the aircraft struck the structure of an Avgas refueling pump. Following the initial impact, the aircraft pivoted to the right, causing the three-bladed propeller of the right engine to strike a second pump (JET A1), resulting in the breakage of two propeller blades.
There were no injuries to the two occupants, but the aircraft sustained substantial damage, including a ruptured right fuel tank, damage to the right wingtip and leading edge, and a damaged propeller.
The investigation
The GPIAAF investigation established that the taxi route between the aprons allowed for either a straight path or a slight left deviation around the fuel pumps. Evidence indicated that the aerodrome management had attempted to modify the taxi line by drawing a new path to divert around the obstacles and erasing the original line. The investigation noted that the wingspan of the Diamond Da42 Twin Star (13.55m) was significant relative to the width of the taxi lanes, which measured between 6.3m and 13.3m.
Findings
- The crew was distracted by performing operational engine tests to assess an ECU failure while taxiing.
- The aircraft's large wingspan left insufficient clearance when using the modified taxi path near the fuel pumps.
- The aerodrome's recent reconfiguration had led to inconsistent or confusing pavement markings.
- There were unconfirmed reports that wingtip collisions with this specific fuel pump installation had occurred previously.
Safety action
Following the investigation, the Aerodrome Manager implemented several measures, including:
- Repainting guidance lines and pavement boundaries.
- Redefining the boundary markings around the fuel pumps.
- Applying conspicuous paint to all sides of the obstacle.
- Updating the aerodrome chart to reflect the revised taxi routes.
Additionally, the manager is evaluating the possibility of relocating the fuel pumps to eliminate the obstacle to aircraft movement.