What happened
On 16 September 2003, a Shadow Series CD, registration G-MZBN, was taxiing along taxiway 'Charlie' at Redhill Aerodrome. During the maneuver, the pilot observed a car and a fire engine parked next to the taxiway ahead. In an attempt to avoid the obstacles, the pilot steered the aircraft toward the right side of the taxiway. However, as the aircraft approached the vehicles, the left wing struck the radio aerial of the car, and the aircraft subsequently impacted the windscreen of the fire engine. This impact caused the aircraft to spin to the left, resulting in the nose of the plane striking the side of the fire engine. The collision caused significant damage to the aircraft's wing and canopy. The pilot was able to exit the aircraft through the broken canopy, and there were no injuries reported.
The investigation
The investigation established that the fire engine involved belonged to the local county Fire and Rescue Service and was not part of the airfield's dedicated Fire Service. At the time of the incident, the vehicle was participating in a routine rescue exercise on the airfield. The investigation examined the positioning of the vehicles and the clearance available during the taxiing maneuver.
Findings
- The primary cause of the collision was the proximity of the parked vehicles to the taxiway edge.
- The fire engine and car were parked immediately adjacent to the taxiway during a rescue exercise.
- The pilot's maneuver to avoid the vehicles resulted in the wing striking the car's aerial and the nose hitting the fire engine.