Event Description
On 8 April 2007 at 15:50 UTC, a Pilatus PC-6/B2-H4, registration HB-FLI, was taxiing on the aircraft parking apron at Casale Monferrato Airport. During the parking maneuver, the right elevator of the Pilatus struck the right wing of a parked Piper PA-28, registration I-CAVM. The PA-28 was stationary on the apron at the time of the collision.
Aircraft and Damage
The Pilatus PC-6/B2-H4 (serial number 893) is a single-engine turboprop high-wing aircraft. The PA-28 is a low-wing aircraft. The collision caused damage to the right elevator of the Pilatus, which was replaced two days later. The PA-28 sustained damage to the leading edge of its right wing, including deformation and tearing of the skin extending from approximately one meter from the wing root to the wingtip.
Pilot Information
The pilot of the Pilatus was a 62-year-old Swiss male holding a valid commercial pilot license issued by the Swiss aviation authority in 1993, with an additional JAR-FCL license issued in February 2007. He held a valid first-class medical certificate with a limitation for multifocal lenses. His ratings included SEP (land), MEP (land), BE 90/99/100/200, Pilatus SET, aerobatic flight, mountain flight, night flight, and instrument flight. He had accumulated 3,980 total flight hours, of which 2,660 were on type. In the 90 days prior to the event, he flew 21 hours 25 minutes on the Pilatus.
Airport and Weather
Casale Monferrato Airport (coordinates 45° 06' 40''N – 008° 27' 22''E) is open only to local Aero Club activity from sunrise to sunset daily except Monday. It has no ATS or apron services. The single grass runway (18-36) is 880 m long and 23 m wide. Access to the concrete apron is via a single taxiway from the RESA of runway 18. Weather at the nearest station (Turin Caselle, about 40 NM west) at the time was: wind from east at 4 knots, visibility >10 km, no precipitation, temperature 17°C, dew point 7°C, humidity 52%.
Analysis and Cause
The investigation determined that the Pilatus had completed a parachute drop and was taxiing to park. The pilot reported that the sun was low and in front of him, causing glare that prevented him from seeing the parked PA-28. The aircraft dimensions show that the Pilatus's right wing (about 2 m high) passed over the PA-28's wing (about 1 m high), while the elevator (about 0.8–1.1 m high) struck the PA-28's wing. The collision occurred during a minimum-radius turn, where the tail swings outward. Based on the geometry and sunny conditions, the report concluded that the pilot should have been aware of the parked aircraft.
The probable cause was identified as the pilot's lack of attention and incorrect estimation of the aircraft's trajectories during a minimum-radius turn. Environmental conditions, specifically the low sun position in front of the pilot, may have induced momentary glare, leading to an incorrect assessment of distances.
Safety Recommendations
No safety recommendations were issued.