Introduction
On the evening of 27 December 2001 at 19:39 UTC, a ground collision occurred at Zurich Airport between two aircraft: a Crossair AG AVRO RJ100, registration HB-IYX, and a TAM Brazilian Airlines Airbus A330-200, registration PT-MVB. The collision took place as the A330 was taxiing to runway 28 and the RJ100 was waiting to enter the remote deicing position east (RIO).
Aircraft and Crew
The TAM A330-200, callsign TAM8071, was a two-engined medium- and long-range aircraft with winglets. Its crew consisted of a male Brazilian captain with 7,255 total flight hours (3,076 on A330) and a male Brazilian first officer with 4,470 total hours (1,805 on A330). Both held valid Airline Transport Pilot Licences.
The Crossair AVRO RJ100, callsign CRX874, was a four-engined short-range high-wing aircraft. Its crew comprised a female Swiss captain with 9,536.6 total hours (2,275.8 on type) and a male Swiss first officer with 562.5 total hours (460 on type). All crew members held valid medical certificates.
History of Flight
Crossair flight CRX874 had taxied from stand I96 to the remote deicing position east, but because the area was occupied by two other aircraft, it could only enter partway into the bypass area of runway 28. The crew stopped with the parking brake applied and awaited further instructions. TAM flight TAM8071 had been deiced at gate B33 and then taxied via taxiway A to the holding point for runway 28.
Accident Circumstances
As TAM8071 proceeded along taxiway A, the right winglet of the Airbus A330-200 struck the rudder assembly of the stationary AVRO RJ100. The collision was glancing and the TAM crew did not initially notice it. The Crossair crew felt a vibration and saw the A330 passing on their left side. They immediately informed Zurich Tower. The TAM crew was subsequently alerted by a radio call and taxied back to gate B33, while the Crossair crew also returned to their stand.
Damage
The AVRO RJ100 sustained substantial damage at the transition from the horizontal to the vertical stabiliser, rendering it unairworthy. The Airbus A330-200 had only scratches on the outer side of its right winglet and was able to continue its scheduled flight after inspection.
Causes
According to the investigation, the collision occurred because the crew of taxiing TAM8071 did not recognize that the stationary CRX874 on the right side of their taxi route had not yet fully rolled into the standby for deicing position and that the available space was insufficient for an aircraft the size of an A330-200 to pass. A possible contributing factor was distraction of the TAM first officer, who was responsible for obstacle clearance on the right side, due to a frequency change to the tower frequency.
Additional Factors
At the time, the remote deicing position east (RIO) was in a trial phase. Procedures and limitations had only been defined through verbal agreements and meeting minutes. Snow and slush partially covered taxiway markings, making them difficult to see.