What happened
On 17 August 2015, a Boeing B75N1 Stearman, registration N56200, was involved in a ground collision at Goodwood Aerodrome in Sussex. The aircraft was parked near a hangar in an area undergoing construction, where several temporary buildings had been set up for an upcoming event. After the pilot started the engine and began taxiing, the aircraft performed a 9/0-degree turn to navigate between these structures toward the runway.
During this maneuver, the pilot's forward visibility was obstructed by the narrow passage between buildings. While the pilot could see two helicopters parked to the left and right, the area directly ahead remained obscured. Consequently, the nose and propeller of the N56200 struck the front of a parked Robinson R44 helicopter. The impact caused damage to the Stearman's propeller and left wing, while the cockpit of the Robinson R44 was destroyed. There were no injuries to the two occupants of the Stearman or any other persons, as the helicopter was unoccupied at the time.
The investigation
The investigation examined the layout of the airfield at the time of the accident and the visibility constraints faced by the pilot. It was established that the width of the path between the temporary buildings was too narrow to permit the pilot to maintain a clear line of sight ahead while executing the necessary turns. The investigation also reviewed the pilot's actions and the lack of ground assistance during the taxiing phase.