What happened
On 24 November 2016, a Dassault Falcon 7X, registration VQ-BSO, was taxiing to the General Aviation apron at London City Airport following a private flight from Rotterdam. The aircraft was being guided by a marshaller and two wing walkers. As the aircraft moved through the parking area, the co-pilot, acting as the handling pilot, followed the signals of the marshaller.
During the maneuver, the marshaller directed a tight left turn toward the terminal building. As the turn tightened, the speed of the right wingtip increased due to the physics of the turn. The wing walker monitoring the right side realized that clearance was insufficient and attempted to signal a stop by crossing his arms in front of his chest. However, the marshaller was focused on the left wing walker and did not observe this non-standard signal. Consequently, the right winglet of VQ-BS0 struck the nose of a parked Dassault Falcon 7X, registration VQ-BSF, resulting in minor abrasions to the winglet and significant damage to the parked aircraft's radome and antenna. There were no injuries to the crew or passengers involved.
The investigation
The investigation examined the ground handling procedures, the physical characteristics of the aircraft, and the movements of the ground crew. CCTV footage confirmed that the speed of the right wingtip increased significantly during the tightening turn. The investigation also looked into the concept of 'wing growth,' where the effective width of a swept-wing aircraft increases during a turn. The investigation noted that while the ground staff were properly trained, the lack of ground markings on the apron and the specific positioning of the parked aircraft contributed to the limited maneuvering space.