Incident Overview
On Saturday, August 25, 2012, at 10:05 local time, a Pilatus PC-6 B2H4 with registration D-FIPS was involved in an accident at the Roanne Renaison aerodrome (France). The aircraft sustained significant damage after colliding with obstacles located within the taxiway strip during ground movement. The operator was an aerial work company conducting parachute drop operations.
Circumstances of the Accident
The pilot had completed a parachute drop from runway 02 and was returning to the parking area. After exiting the runway via the second right-hand taxiway, the aircraft entered the parallel taxiway. During a right turn, the pilot failed to maintain the centerline, causing the aircraft to drift left. The left wing struck a first pole, which broke, before coming to rest against a second pole.
The pilot reported that the taxiing speed was low but acknowledged that forward visibility from this type of aircraft is limited during ground operations. The poles had been installed along the taxiway in preparation for an air show. They were positioned approximately 5 meters from the edge and 12 meters from the centerline of the taxiway.
Regulatory Context and Contributing Factors
The Roanne aerodrome is classified as category 2C, which requires a clearance of 26 meters from the centerline. The Pilatus PC-6 has a wingspan of approximately 16 meters. Despite the obstacles being within the required clearance zone, no NOTAM (Notice to Airmen) was issued to alert users of their presence on the day of the accident.
The pilot had previously flown at the aerodrome the day before and noticed the poles but did not precisely estimate their position relative to the taxiway axis. The pilot held 760 total flight hours, including 200 hours on type, with 170 hours in the preceding three months and 2 hours in the last 24 hours.
Weather Conditions
At the time of the incident, weather conditions included a wind from 340 degrees at 5 knots, scattered clouds at 3,500 feet, and visibility exceeding 10 kilometers.