What happened
On 21 April 2001, a Gulfstream AA-5B, registration G-BGPH, was involved in a ground accident at Biggin Hill Airport, Kent. The pilot was conducting a pre-flight demonstration for two children and one adult, specifically illustrating the aircraft's checklist procedures. During this process, the parking brake was engaged, and the engine was primed and started.
Immediately following the engine start, the aircraft began moving forward. In an attempt to control the movement, the pilot applied both toe brakes. However, the aircraft veered to the left and collided with a container. The impact caused damage to the right wing and the outboard section of the left wing. There were no injuries reported among the four people on board, and all occupants were able to exit the aircraft via the standard exits without difficulty.
The investigation
Investigators examined the mechanical state of the aircraft's braking system following the event. A functional check performed by the maintenance organisation determined that the brakes were operating normally. The investigation also noted that while the incident was not immediately reported to Air Traffic Control by the pilot, the event was brought to the attention of controllers by a local flying group.