What happened
On October 30, 2010, at approximately 06:34 UTC, an Airbus A300-200, registered F-GZCH, was taxiing at Paris Charles de Gaulle airport toward runway 27L via taxiway E1. Simultaneously, an Airbus A380-800, registered F-HPJD, had just landed from New York and was taxiing toward parking stand L3 via the same taxiway.
As the A380-800 completed its final turn onto E1 to enter stand L3, a ground marshal instructed the crew to stop approximately 26 meters short of the final parking position to allow for the pre-positioning of a passenger boarding bridge. The crew applied the parking brake. Shortly after, the A330-200 entered taxiway E1.
During the maneuver, the co-pilot of the A330-200 noted that the A380-800 appeared to be in close proximity to the aircraft. The captain, after visually estimating the distance, determined it was sufficient and continued the taxi. While a marshal was connected to the A380-800 to communicate the parking position, the A330-200's left wing struck the APU cone of the A380-800. The collision caused damage to the left wingtip extremity of the A330-200 and damage to the APU cone frame of the A380-800.
The investigation
The investigation examined the ground procedures, the visibility of taxiway markings, and the communication between the aircraft crews and ground personnel. Investigators reviewed the use of taxiway E1, which is designed to allow A380 operations with sufficient safety margins.
It was established that the ground personnel had decided to stop the A380-800 short of its final position to facilitate the deployment of boarding bridges. The investigation also looked into the visibility of the white safety line separating the apron from the taxiway, noting that rainwater on the ground reduced its visibility to the A330-200 crew. Furthermore, the investigation reviewed the training of the flight crews regarding distance estimation and the specific ground handling procedures for the A380-800 at stand L3.
Findings
- The primary cause was the decision by ground personnel to stop the A380-800 short of its final parking position, combined with the A330-200 crew's decision to continue taxiing based on a visual distance estimate despite expressed doubts.
- Ambiguous operator documentation regarding boarding bridge deployment contributed to the ground crew's incomplete understanding of the procedure.
- The A380-800 crew's notification to the East Tower agent regarding their non-final position was delayed.
- The A330-200 crew was unaware of the significance of the white safety line separating the apron from the maneuvering area.