What happened
On April 19, 2022, at approximately 13:34 UTC, a Pilatus PC-12/47E, registration OE-EPH, arrived at Bolzano Airport (LIPB) from Graz. After the aircraft taxied to its assigned parking stand (stand 202) and came to a stop, an airport ground operator approached the aircraft from the front to position wheel chocks under the nose gear.
At the time of the approach, the aircraft's engine was still running, and both the navigation and anti-collision lights remained illuminated. As the operator moved toward the nose of the aircraft to place the chocks, his left arm came into contact with the rotating propeller. The contact resulted in serious injuries to the operator, who was immediately provided with medical assistance and transported to a hospital.
The investigation
The ANSV investigation utilized airport surveillance footage to reconstruct the sequence of events. The footage confirmed that the aircraft was stationary at the stand, but the propeller was visibly rotating and the anti-collision lights were active. The investigation also reviewed the operator's professional background, noting that he had been employed by the airport management company for just over one month and was still within his three-month probationary period. While the operator had completed required safety training, his overall operational experience was limited.
Weather conditions at the time of the event were favorable, with good visibility and no precipitation. The position of the sun did not create any glare that would have obstructed the operator's view of the aircraft.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was the failure to follow established airport safety regulations regarding aircraft maneuvering zones.
- According to Bolzano Airport's airfield regulations and operations manual, personnel are prohibited from entering the aircraft perimeter while anti-collision lights are active, as these lights indicate the aircraft is in a state of maneuver or preparing to move.
- Regulations specifically mandate that chocks should only be positioned after the aircraft has come to a complete stop and the anti-collision lights have been extinguished.
- The operator's use of noise-canceling headphones, while a required safety measure, may have reduced his ability to perceive the engine's sound during the shutdown phase.
- The limited operational experience of the ground crew member may have also contributed to the incident.