Incident Overview
On 29 June 2002, at approximately 0930 UTC, a Piper PA-46-310P Malibu, registration N797HG, was involved in a ground collision at Jersey Airport. The aircraft, built in 1984 and powered by a single Continental TSIO-520 SER piston engine, was being operated on a private flight by a 54-year-old pilot. The pilot held a Private Pilot's Licence and had accumulated 2,150 flying hours, of which 1,700 were on type.
Sequence of Events
N797HG had arrived at Jersey from Guernsey the previous day and was parked overnight at the Aero Club. On the day of the incident, it departed for Shoreham at 1030 local time. While taxiing from the Light Aircraft Grass Parking (LAGP) area, the aircraft passed between two rows of parked airplanes. It moved adjacent to the propellers of aircraft on the left side and the rudders of those on the right side.
Later, during cruise at Flight Level 130, the pilot observed loose wires flapping on the right wing tip. After landing at Shoreham, he discovered that the right wing tip strobe light was missing and the navigation light had been damaged. The damage had not been apparent during the pre-flight walkaround. The pilot concluded that it resulted from contact with another aircraft.
On the same day, at noon, the pilot of a PA-28R Cherokee Arrow III, registration G-BMIV, walked to his aircraft and found that its rudder had sustained horizontal impact damage. Adjacent to the impact area were remnants of a strobe light and navigation light, which the pilot reported as resembling parts from a Piper aircraft. G-BMIV had arrived at Jersey the previous day without incident.
Investigation Findings
Enquiries at Jersey established that N797HG was the only aircraft that had departed from the Aero Club LAGP since G-BMIV's arrival. All evidence indicated that N797HG's right wing tip contacted G-BMIV's rudder as the former was taxiing out of the LAGP area prior to its flight to Shoreham.
Parking and Taxiing Conditions
The LAGP area allows aircraft weighing less than 3,000 kg to park at the pilot's discretion. Aircraft are arranged in five rows, with five or six aircraft line abreast per row. A marker is placed at the beginning of each row, with a 75-foot (22.7-meter) gap between markers. Standard protection distances found on licensed aerodrome aprons are not provided. Guidance from Civil Aviation Publication (CAP) 428, 'Safety Standards at Unlicensed Aerodromes,' recommends at least 15 meters separation between aircraft extremities and between aircraft and vehicles or fences when taxiing and parking under own power.
Applicable Regulations
The Rules of the Air Regulations 1996 state that, notwithstanding any air traffic control clearance, the commander of an aircraft must take all possible measures to ensure his aircraft does not collide with any other aircraft or vehicle.
Damage
N797HG sustained damage to its right wing tip. G-BMIV's rudder was damaged. The strobe light and navigation light from N797HG were found at the scene.
Injuries
No injuries were reported on either aircraft. The sole occupant of N797HG was uninjured; G-BMIV had no occupants at the time.