Incident Overview
On 14 January 2010, two Boeing 737-800 aircraft operated by Ryanair were involved in a ground collision at Girona Airport (LEGE) in Spain. The aircraft, registrations EI-EBL and EI-DWT, were parked at stands 3A and 4A respectively. Both were scheduled for passenger flights: EI-EBL (callsign 9111) to Turin, Italy, with 73 passengers, and EI-DWT (callsign 9727) to Las Palmas, Spain, with 75 passengers. At approximately 10:00 UTC, both aircraft were pushed back and started engines. They taxied toward runway 20, with EI-EBL leading.
Crew Information
The crew of EI-EBL included a 43-year-old captain with 7,600 total flight hours (2,500 on type) and a 29-year-old copilot with 430 total hours (150 on type). The captain was the pilot flying and steering during taxi. The crew of EI-DWT consisted of a 37-year-old captain with 8,700 total hours (7,000 on type) and a 35-year-old copilot with 2,800 total hours (2,000 on type). The copilot was the pilot flying, but the captain steered during taxi. All crew members held valid licenses and medical certificates.
Aircraft and Airport Details
Both aircraft were Boeing 737-800 models powered by CFM 56 7B engines. EI-EBL (serial 37529, built 2009) and EI-DWT (serial 33626, built 2008) had valid airworthiness certificates. Girona Airport has a single runway (02-20) and a parallel taxiway. The stop bar for runway 20 was relocated in October 2009 due to ILS Cat II/III installation, but the Aerodrome Information Publication (AIP) still depicted the old position. The actual stop bar position differed from the published chart until July 2010. A subsequent survey determined the clearance between two aircraft of the same type at the old stop bar: the theoretical minimum wingtip-to-stabilizer separation during overtake was 4.7 meters.
Sequence of Events
After pushback, both aircraft taxied toward runway 20. At 10:03, EI-EBL received taxi clearance. At 10:06, as EI-EBL neared the runway 20 hold point, its crew reported ready for takeoff and was told they were number two. EI-DWT, taxiing behind, also reported ready and was informed they were number one. The crew of EI-DWT then prepared to overtake EI-EBL on the right. EI-EBL had stopped at the leftmost of two stop bar positions. As EI-DWT passed, its left winglet struck the right side of EI-EBL's horizontal stabilizer, damaging the stabilizer trailing edge and elevator. EI-DWT's left winglet fractured. The EI-DWT crew notified the tower and the other aircraft. Both aircraft were cleared to return to parking via the runway; no emergency evacuation occurred.
Damage
EI-EBL sustained significant damage to the right part of its horizontal stabilizer, including the fixed surface and elevator. EI-DWT had minor damage limited to the fracture of its left winglet. No third-party damage was reported.