Tecnam P92-EM Collides with Telehandler During Taxi at Denbigh Airfield

Casualties unknown • Lleweni Parc Denbigh Airfield, Denbigh , GB

A private flight in a Tecnam P92-EM Echo ended in a ground collision when the aircraft's wing struck a parked telehandler at Lleweni Parc Denbigh Airfield.

What happened

On 23 June 2020, a Tecnam P92-EM Echo, registration G-WHEN, was involved in a ground collision at Lleweni Parc Denbigh Airfield. The flight, which was being conducted privately, had been marked by challenging weather conditions. During the flight, the pilot encountered low cloud base that obscured high ground, leading to a period of disorientation and loss of navigation. Additionally, the engine began running roughly, prompting the pilot to prepare for a potential forced landing. Despite these issues, the pilot successfully returned to the airfield and landed.

While taxiing the aircraft back toward the hangar, the pilot attempted to navigate around a stationary telehandler parked near the taxiway. To provide clearance for the vehicle, the pilot allowed the right main wheel to enter a newly constructed, shallow ditch located on the right side of the aircraft. This maneuver caused the aircraft to pivot unexpectedly to the left. As the aircraft swung, the left wing struck the telehandler. The impact resulted in a dented left wing leading edge, a displaced wing, distorted flaps, and a broken propeller. There were no injuries to the pilot or the nearby construction worker.

The investigation

Investigators examined the positioning of the telehandler and the topography of the taxiway. The vehicle was parked perpendicular to the tarmac at the edge of a hard-standing area near a new hangar. The investigation noted that a recent widening of the taxiway had created a smooth, unfinished ditch approximately 100 mm lower than the taxiway surface. Physical evidence from the aircraft, including the damage to the left wing leading edge, was consistent with a collision with the outer section of the telehandler's structure.

Findings

  • The pilot had experienced a highly stressful flight involving low visibility and engine irregularities prior to the taxiing incident.
  • The pilot's decision to run the right main wheel into the ditch to create space for the telehandler caused the aircraft to swing left.
  • A lapse in concentration following the successful landing may have resulted in insufficient wingtip clearance between the aircraft and the parked vehicle.

Probable cause

The collision was caused by the aircraft pivoting into a parked telehandler after the pilot steered the right main wheel into a shallow ditch to attempt to clear the vehicle, potentially exacerbated by a loss of focus following a stressful flight.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 2020-06-23 Tecnam P92-EM Echo accident near Lleweni Parc Denbigh Airfield, Denbigh , GB?

A private flight in a Tecnam P92-EM Echo ended in a ground collision when the aircraft's wing struck a parked telehandler at Lleweni Parc Denbigh Airfield.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 2020-06-23 involved a Tecnam P92-EM Echo , registration G-WHEN, at Lleweni Parc Denbigh Airfield, Denbigh , GB.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The collision was caused by the aircraft pivoting into a parked telehandler after the pilot steered the right main wheel into a shallow ditch to attempt to clear the vehicle, potentially exacerbated by a loss of focus following a stressful flight.

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