Accident
On 10 October 2014, at 1430 hours UTC, an Extra EA 300 aircraft, registration G-SIII, struck a small low bowser containing Jet A1 fuel while taxiing at White Waltham Airfield, Berkshire. The aircraft was being operated on a private flight with one pilot and no passengers.
Aircraft Information
The Extra EA 300 is a single-engine aerobatic aircraft, serial number 58, manufactured in 1994. It was powered by a Lycoming AEIO-540-L1B5 piston engine.
Pilot Information
The pilot, aged 55, held a Private Pilot's Licence and had accumulated 812 hours of flying experience, of which 56 hours were on the Extra EA 300. In the preceding 90 days, he had flown 9 hours.
Sequence of Events
The pilot had landed on Runway 21 and intended to taxi to the fuel pumps. Due to limited forward visibility while taxiing the Extra 300, the pilot adopted a weaving path to clear himself of other aircraft and to follow existing tyre tracks. However, he did not see a small low bowser parked in the area. The aircraft struck the bowser nose-first, causing damage to both. The pilot later admitted he was aware that the bowser, which is almost always parked in that location to service helicopters, would be present, but on this occasion he had not visually acquired it. He commented that conflict seemed more probable with aircraft landing on Runway 21, as the bowser lies along the taxi path typically used by such aircraft to reach the fuel pumps.
Damage
The aircraft sustained damage to the propeller, spinner, engine (shock-loaded), lower cowling, and left spat. The pilot reported no injuries.