What happened
On 15 August 2010, two aircraft were involved in a ground collision at Redhill Airfield, Surrey. The first aircraft, a DH82A Tiger Moth, registration G-AKUE, had recently cleared the runway and was taxiing toward the apron. After verifying that the aircraft's path was unobstructed, the pilot began moving toward the parking area.
As the G-AK/UE approached the apron, the pilot noticed a Cessna 152, registration G-BMTB, positioned a short distance ahead. In an attempt to halt the movement of the Tiger Moth, the pilot shut down the engine. However, because the Tiger Moth is not equipped with wheel brakes, the aircraft continued to roll forward. The propeller of the G-AKUE subsequently struck the right aileron of the G-BMTB.
The investigation
The investigation was based on the aircraft accident report form provided by the pilot. Investigators examined the mechanical capabilities of the aircraft and the visibility conditions during the taxiing maneuver. The investigation established that the occupants of both aircraft escaped the incident without any injuries.
Findings
- The collision was caused by the restricted forward visibility inherent to the Tiger Moth design while operating on the ground.
- The pilot of G-AKUE identified the presence of the G-BMTB too late to avoid contact.
- The lack of wheel brakes on the DH82A Tiger Moth prevented the pilot from stopping the aircraft's forward momentum once the engine was shut down.