What happened
On 26 June 2024, a Piper J3C-65, registration G-BBLH, was taxiing along Taxiway L at London Biggin Hill Airport when it encountered the jet efflux from a stationary Bombardier Global 6000, registration M-SFPL. The Bombardier Global 6000 was parked on an adjacent apron with its engines running as the crew performed a test of the wing anti-ice system. The pilot of the G-BBLH was unaware that the engines on the larger aircraft had already been started.
The force of the jet blast caused the Piper J3C-65 to spin aggressively into the exhaust stream. During this period of instability, the aircraft's left wingtip struck the ground at least twice. The pilot declared an emergency to Air Traffic Control, subsequently shut down the engine, and exited the aircraft to attempt to secure it. Assistance was provided by individuals from a nearby hangar to move the aircraft away from the danger zone. There were no injuries to the crew of either aircraft.
The investigation
The AAIB investigation established that the crew of M-SFPL was conducting a wing anti-ice system test, a procedure that increases the engine idle thrust setting on that aircraft type. The investigation also looked into the positioning of aircraft on the maintenance apron. While the airport and the maintenance organisation had agreed on specific ground markings to direct engine exhaust away from Taxiway L, the investigation found that aircraft were frequently parked in a manner that deviated from these markings.
Findings
- The Bombardier Global 6000 was parked perpendicular to the apron edge rather than in alignment with the designated yellow ground markings.
- Improper aircraft positioning meant the jet efflux was directed toward the taxiway rather than toward the grass area as intended.
- The pilot of the G-BBLH was unaware the engines on M-SFPL were running prior to the encounter.
- The maintenance organisation's internal review noted a pattern of parking aircraft in ways that reduced the available space and deviated from the required taxi markings.
Safety action
- The maintenance organisation responsible for the apron has briefed its operations team to reinforce the requirement that all aircraft must be aligned with the designated apron ground markings before engines are started.