What happened
On 3 December 1998, at approximately 0005 hrs, a BN2A MK.III-1 Trislander, registration G-BBLU, was involved in a ground incident at Liverpool Airport. The aircraft was operating as a public transport flight. At the time of the event, significant construction work was being carried out on the airport's maneuvering area, resulting in the implementation of non-standard operating procedures.
The pilot, accompanied by a marshaller, approached the aircraft which was parked on a spur taxiway. The pilot noted that the area was heavily congested with other parked aircraft, which appeared to be positioned poorly due to the ongoing works. During the process, the marshaller assigned to assist the pilot in navigating the crowded area was diverted to attend to another aircraft on the main apron.
After clearing ice from the flight deck windows, the pilot decided to proceed with the taxi without further assistance. While maneuvering through the congested space, the pilot eventually exited the area but noticed that the glow from the right-hand navigation light was no longer visible. Upon stopping the aircraft to inspect the damage, the pilot discovered that the bulb and lens of the right navigation light had been broken.
The investigation
Investigators examined the circumstances surrounding the taxi and the condition of the aircraft. Although the pilot reported that they did not feel any physical impact during the maneuver, a subsequent inspection of a nearby Jetstream 41 parked on the same spur taxiway revealed damage to its left aileron hinge fairing. This suggested that contact had occurred between the two aircraft during the movement.
Findings
- The maneuvering area at Liverpool Airport was congested due to ongoing maintenance work.
- The pilot proceeded to taxi through a restricted area without the assistance of a marshaller after the assigned ground crew member was reassamed to other duties.
- The aircraft sustained minor damage to its right navigation light.
Safety action
Following the incident, the operating company implemented a new requirement stating that pilots must utilize the services of a marshaller whenever the maneuvering area is under restricted operations.