What happened
On 28 April 2004, at approximately 0720 UTC, a BN2A MK.III-2 Trislander, registration G-RBCI, was involved in a ground incident at Alderney Airport in the Channel Islands. The aircraft, operated for public transport, had been parked overnight on the apron near the terminal building.
During the morning preparations, the pilot performed a preflight walk-around inspection and unlocked the castoring nosewheel to facilitate a tight left-hand turn while departing the stand. At the time of the incident, visibility was limited to 1,200 metres due to heavy rain. As the aircraft taxied away from its parking position, the starboard wing made contact with a temporary scaffolding structure located in front of the Air Traffic Control Tower. The collision resulted in damage to the right-hand navigation light, the wing tip, and the trailing edge of the wing. There were no injuries to the pilot.
The investigation
The investigation examined the physical environment of the apron and the operational constraints present during the taxi. It was noted that the presence of the scaffolding, used by contractors for nearby repairs, significantly restricted the available maneuvering space on the apron. The investigation also reviewed the cockpit positioning of the pilot, noting that while the operator's policy allowed for single-pilot operations, the pilot's view of the aircraft's right side was inherently limited from the left-hand seat.