What happened
On 31 March 2000, a Spitfire IXT, registration G-LFIX, was conducting a practice display flight at Duxford Airfield in preparation for the summer season. During the initial stages of the flight, a Bell 206 helicopter arrived at the airfield and was positioned on the grass 'H' parking area, situated between the paved taxiway and the grass runway.
Following the completion of the display, the pilot of the Spitfire IXT landed on grass Runway 24. The pilot then began taxiing across the grass towards a parking area located at the north-east of the airfield. To navigate around several parked aircraft, the pilot employed standard tailwheel taxiing procedures, which involved weaving the aircraft from side to side to maintain visibility of the path ahead. However, as the aircraft passed the final parked aircraft on its left, it struck the stationary Bell 206 helicopter in an almost head-on collision.
The investigation
An AAIB inspector visited Duxford Airfield to investigate the incident, utilizing the aircraft accident report form provided by the pilot. The investigation examined the positioning of the aircraft and the layout of the airfield. The 'H' parking area, which had been utilized for many years, was noted to be located roughly one-third of the way between the paved taxiway and the grass runway, specifically at the southern edge of the grass taxiway parallel to Runway 24.
Findings
- The collision resulted in damage to three propeller blades and part of the nosecone on the Spitfire IXT.
- The Bell 206 helicopter sustained substantial damage to its left side.
- The primary cause of the accident was the collision between the taxiing Spitfire and the parked helicopter.
Safety action
- Duxford Airfield Management are to evaluate methods for increasing the separation between helicopter parking areas and the grass taxiway.