What happened
On September 4, 1987, an HS-25-800B aircraft, registered G-HYGA and operated by York Aviation Ltd, was parked at position number 1 at Faro Airport. During ground operations, a TAP – Air Portugal tractor (unit number 43) was traveling in a north-to-south direction when its cabin struck the tip of the aircraft's left wing.
The collision resulted in minor injuries to the tractor driver, who sustained abrasions to the face and the right ear. The aircraft sustained damage consisting of scraped paint on both the upper and lower surfaces of the wing tip and a twisted static wicks. The tractor also sustained damage, including a cracked fiberglass cabin section on the upper right side and a broken windshield.
The investigation
The investigation established that the collision occurred while the aircraft was stationary at its parking stand. The inquiry examined the movement of the ground vehicle and the resulting impact on the aircraft's wing structure and the vehicle's cabin. The investigation also reviewed airport occurrence reports related to the event.
Findings
- The primary cause of the incident was the collision between the moving tractor and the parked aircraft.
- The incident occurred amidst a period of increased small-scale occurrences at Faro Airport.
- The investigation noted that the airport's existing infrastructure and equipment may have been insufficient for the volume of traffic being handled at the time.