What happened
During nighttime ground operations at Halim Perdanakusuma International Airport, a collision occurred involving two aircraft. A Batik Air Indonesia Boeing 737-800, registration PK-LBS, was performing a rejected takeoff maneuver on the runway. Simultaneously, a TransNusa Aviation Mandiri ATR 42-600, registration PK-TNJ, was being towed through the maneuvering area by a ground vehicle. The movement of the Boeing 73 resulted in a collision that caused substantial damage to the wing and horizontal stabilizer of the towed ATR 42-600.
The investigation
The KNKT investigation focused on the visibility of the towed aircraft and the decision-making processes of the flight and ground crews. Investigators examined the lighting configuration of the PK-TNJ during the tow. Because the engines were not running, the aircraft's internal electrical systems were not providing power to the standard navigation or anti-collision lights. Instead, small, portable red and green lights had been attached to the wingtips.
Furthermore, the investigation reviewed the air traffic control procedures at Halim Perdanakusuma, noting that the airport's handling of ground movements differs from other Indonesian airports due to the presence of military training flights. The investigators also analyzed the lighting of the towing vehicle and the visibility of the aircraft's position to the controllers and other pilots in the area.
Findings
- The primary cause of the collision was the inadequate visibility of the towed aircraft due to the lack of functional navigation and anti-collision lights.
- The ATR 42-600 was being towed without its engines running, meaning the aircraft's electrical systems could not power its standard lighting.
- The portable lights used on the wingtips were insufficient for maintaining the aircraft's visibility to other traffic during nighttime operations.
- There was a lack of specific, standardized procedures for managing ground movements involving non-powered aircraft at this specific airport location.