What happened
On 16 February 2018, a Piper PA-28-161 Cherokee Warrior III, registration G-WARY, was being taxied at Shoreham Airport for a planned cross-country flight. The pilot, seated in the right-hand seat, intended to move the aircraft from its parking position to the fuel pumps. As the aircraft moved forward, the pilot initiated a 90-degree left turn using a small amount of power and left-side braking.
Instead of straightening the aircraft after the turn, the aircraft continued to pivot left. Before the pilot could adjust the throttle or braking, the left wing of G-WARY became caught under the left wing of a parked Piper PA-28-161 Cherokee Warrior III, registration G-WARZ. The momentum of the collision forced G-WARY into a 180-degree turn, eventually causing its propeller to penetrate the rear fuselage of the stationary G-WARZ. The collision resulted in no injuries to the pilot, but caused substantial damage to both aircraft, including engine shock-load to G-WARY and major structural disruption to the rear fuselage of G-WARZ.
The investigation
The AAIB examined the pilot's actions and the physical configuration of the aircraft during the taxi. The investigation noted that the pilot was operating the aircraft from the right seat, a position that differs from his usual operating procedure in the left seat. An instructor's subsequent observation of the pilot taxiing revealed that the pilot's feet were positioned with the heels resting on the cockpit floor, which is not an ideal position for precise brake control.
Findings
- The pilot's unfamiliarity with operating the aircraft from the right seat affected his fluency with the throttle and rudder pedals.
- The pilot's foot positioning on the rudder pedals hindered effective and positive braking control.
- The collision was likely caused by an imbalance in braking, specifically the application of more left brake than intended without sufficient right-side braking to stabilize the turn.