What happened
On 13 November 2023, an AW13D helicopter, registration 5N-BOX, was returning to its parking position at Norwich Airport following a post-maintenance test flight. The flight was a non-revenue commercial air transport operation. As the aircraft was ground taxiing toward Stand 12, the commander attempted to maneuver the helicopter to align with an aircraft on the adjacent stand.
While following a yellow perimeter line on the parking stand, the main rotor blades struck a lamp post located just outside the airport perimeter. The impact caused damage to all five main rotor blade tips and left debris scattered around the area. The aircraft was shut down immediately following the strike, and there were no injuries to the two crew members on board.
The investigation
The investigation established that the crew members were not based at Norwich Airport, which limited their familiarity with the airfield layout. The commander intended to turn the helicopter to face east, matching the orientation of an aircraft on the neighboring stand. To achieve this, the pilot followed the outer yellow circular line of the parking stand, under the impression that this path would provide sufficient clearance from obstacles.
Investigators found that the commander had misinterpreted the yellow perimeter line of the stand as a continuation of the taxiway lead-in line. Because the pilot believed following this line would ensure obstacle clearance, attention to potential hazards on the right side of the aircraft was reduced. The investigation also noted that the ground markings at the stand were somewhat faded, which may have contributed to the pilot's error in navigation.
Findings
- The pilot's misinterpretation of the yellow stand perimeter line as a taxiway lead-in line led to the unintended flight path.
- The lamp post was located outside the airport boundary, painted grey, and was not easily identifiable to the crew.
- The pilot's focus on aligning the aircraft with the adjacent helicopter reduced situational awareness regarding obstacles.
- Faded surface markings at the parking stand may have contributed to the error in following the correct taxi path.