Accident Overview
On 23 June 2020, a Tecnam P92-EM Echo, registered G-WHEN, was involved in a ground collision while taxiing at Lleweni Parc Denbigh Airfield in Denbigh. The aircraft, powered by a single Jabiru 2200A piston engine and manufactured in 2004, sustained damage to its left wing and propeller. The pilot, the sole occupant, was uninjured, as was a construction worker standing near the telehandler.
History of the Flight
The pilot, aged 73 with 780 hours of flying experience (including 700 on type), reported an eventful flight in marginal weather conditions. He intended to fly to a nearby airfield but found the cloud base obscuring high ground. Low cloud caused disorientation, and the engine began running roughly. The pilot anticipated the need for a forced landing, but the engine continued running, and he returned to the airfield and landed safely.
Taxiway Collision
While taxiing back to the hangar, the aircraft's left wing struck a stationary telehandler parked alongside the taxiway. The telehandler, lime green in colour, was positioned perpendicular to the tarmac taxiway at the edge of an area of hard ground in front of a newly constructed low hangar. A taxiway widening strip, referred to as a 'ditch', ran alongside the opposite side of the taxiway. This strip had a smooth unfinished surface, was about 100 mm lower than the taxiway, and had chamfered edges.
Just before the collision, the aircraft was taxied toward the left side of the telehandler, placing the ditch on the aircraft's right. The pilot allowed the right main wheel to run into the ditch to make room to pass the telehandler. In the pilot's opinion, this caused the aircraft to swing left and into the telehandler. The impact dented the left wing leading edge near the wingtip, displaced the wing, and distorted the flap. The propeller was severely damaged, and the lower engine cowl was dented. The aircraft pivoted to the left and came to a stop wedged against the telehandler.
AAIB Observations
The Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) noted that the series of events during the flight would have been very stressful for the pilot. It commented that his relief at landing safely may have resulted in a lapse in concentration while taxiing, leading to insufficient wingtip clearance between the aircraft and the telehandler.