What happened
On 3 September 2014, a DH82A Tiger Moth, registration G-ACDC, was involved in a ground collision at Headcorn Aerodrome in Kent. Following a landing, the pilot was taxiing the aircraft toward a hangar for parking. To reach the intended parking spot, the pilot had to navigate a concrete taxiway situated between a recently landed helicopter and another aircraft that had just commenced engine start.
During the maneuver, the aircraft was taxiing downwind in 15-knot winds. The pilot encountered significant difficulty maintaining directional control because the aircraft is equipped with a tail skid rather than a wheel, and the smooth concrete surface offered minimal friction. Because the aircraft lacked a braking system, the pilot was unable to arrest the movement of the aircraft, resulting in a collision with the Avions Pierre Robin CEA DR400/140B, registration G-BFJZ. There were no injuries to the pilot or the passenger on board the Tiger Moth.
The investigation
The investigation was based on the aircraft accident report submitted by the pilot. Investigators examined the environmental conditions and the mechanical characteristics of the aircraft involved. The assessment focused on the interaction between the wind conditions, the surface friction of the concrete taxiway, and the specific control limitations of the Tiger Moth's tail skid configuration.