What happened
In 2020, the Dutch aviation sector experienced several notable incidents involving various aircraft types. In the North Sea, an Airbus EC175 B helicopter, operating under instrument flight rules, came into close proximity with a military F-1/6 jet flying under visual flight rules.
On the ground at Rotterdam The Hague Airport, an APEX Aircraft DR 400/140 B, registration PH-SVT, experienced an incident during taxiing. After a student pilot left a tow bar attached to the nose wheel, the aircraft's nose compressed during braking tests, causing the propeller blades to strike the bar and sustain damage.
At a gliding club, a winch launch involving an ASK-23 glider led to a collision with a stationary ASK-21. The tension from the winch cable caught the wing of the parked aircraft, causing it to rotate violently and sustain heavy damage. Additionally, a Dornier 228 experienced a loss of control during its landing roll at Eindhoven Airport, resulting in a ground loop.
The investigation
The Dutch Safety Board examined the circumstances surrounding these events, focusing on cockpit procedures, ground coordination, and airspace management. In the case of the PH-SVT, investigators looked into the student pilot's pre-flight routine and the instructor's oversight. For the glider incident, the board reviewed the communication between the wing walker, the signals operator, and the soloist, as well as the positioning of the winch cables.
Regarding the North Sea encounter, the investigation analyzed the interaction between IFR and VFR traffic within class E airspace and the coordination between different air traffic control sectors.
Findings
- The proximity between the Airbus EC175 B and the F-16 highlighted that the use of the same airspace by high-speed military and low-speed civilian traffic remains a significant safety risk.
- The glider accident was caused by a lack of clear guidelines regarding runway clearance and the failure of ground personnel to recognize that the ASK-21 was positioned across active winch cables.
- The incident involving PH-SVT was attributed to a deviation from normal routine where the tow bar was not removed following a non-standard parking procedure.
Safety action
Following the glider incident, the local safety committee recommended the implementation of a designated safe sector that must remain free of obstacles during all takeoff operations. To prevent similar propeller damage, it is recommended that pilots perform walk-around inspections immediately prior to boarding to ensure all ground equipment, such as tow bars, has been removed.