What happened
On July 19, 2008, at approximately 07:00 UTC, a Boeing 757, registration CS-TFK, operated by EuroAtlantic, was parked at Trapani Airport (LICT). During pre-flight procedures, while the aircraft was without passengers, an impact was felt against the airframe.
A Boeing 737 operated by Ryanair, which was performing maneuvering operations on the ground, struck the tail section of the stationary CS-TFK with its wing. The collision resulted in no injuries and no fatalities, but caused structural damage to the aircraft.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the damage sustained by the Boeing 757's left horizontal stabilizer leading edge. Following the incident, the aircraft underwent a temporary repair. This repair was performed under instructions from Boeing and with authorization from the National Civil Aviation Authority (INAC) to facilitate a ferry flight to Lisbon. This provisional fix was intended to allow the aircraft to fly for an additional 150 hours while awaiting the arrival of a replacement leading edge component.
Findings
- The primary cause of the damage was a ground collision involving a maneuvering aircraft.
- The impact specifically caused a dent in the leading edge of the left horizontal stabilizer of the Boeing 757.