What happened
On 4 July 2002, at approximately 18:10 UTC, a Bombardier DHC-8-311 Dash 8, registration G-JEDF, was stationary at stand number 2 at London City Airport. The aircraft was being operated for public transport and was occupied by four crew members and ten passengers. While the aircraft was parked, a baggage delivery vehicle collided with the airframe.
The impact resulted in an 18-inch horizontal gash located 1.5 metres behind the rear left cargo door. Additionally, the collision caused damage to the aircraft frame on the left side, situated aft of the pressure bulkhead. There were no injuries to the passengers or crew, and no fatalities were reported.
The investigation
The investigation established that the driver of the baggage delivery vehicle was in the process of towing two trolleys at the time of the incident. The driver's attention was focused on managing the position of these trolleys and maintaining distance from another service vehicle parked nearby on the ramp. This preoccupation with the surrounding ground traffic led to the collision with the parked aircraft.
Findings
- The primary cause of the incident was the driver's lack of attention to the aircraft due to concentrating on the movement of towed trolleys and avoiding a nearby service vehicle.
- The collision caused structural damage to the fuselage and frame of the Bombardier DHC-8-311 Dash 8.
Safety action
Following the event, airport ground services conducted a risk assessment regarding the movement of vehicles near aircraft. This assessment was intended to identify and remove any unsafe driving or maneuvering practices on the ramp.