GND CONFLICT OCCURS WHEN A BE58 PART 135 ATP PLT TAXIES INTO A PARKED CARGO VEHICLE THAT WAS BY HIS R HORIZ STABILIZER AT HFD; CT.

Date: 2003-06 · Aircraft: Baron 58/58TC

Anomalies: atc-issue-all-types|conflict-ground-conflict|critical|deviation-discrepancy-procedural-far|deviation-discrepancy-procedural-published-material-policy|ground-event-encounter-vehicle|other-sck-press

Synopsis

GND CONFLICT OCCURS WHEN A BE58 PART 135 ATP PLT TAXIES INTO A PARKED CARGO VEHICLE THAT WAS BY HIS R HORIZ STABILIZER AT HFD; CT.

Narrative

THE INDEPENDENT COURIER PULLED UP TO THE AIRPLANE; INSIDE THE WINGTIP-RADIUS; CIRCLE OF SAFETY; PROTECTED AREA. THE FREIGHT WAS UNLOADED; THE INDEPENDENT COURIER GOT INTO HIS TRUCK AND I STARTED MY ENGS. I ROLLED STRAIGHT AHEAD AND STOPPED WHEN I HEARD A POP AND FELT A THUMP. THE R REAR WINDOW OF THE COURIER'S TRUCK WAS SHATTERED AND I SAW THE TRUCK'S RED BRAKE LIGHTS AND WHITE REVERSE LIGHTS ON. I SHUT THE AIRPLANE DOWN AND APCHED THE COURIER. HE SAID NOTHING EXCEPT THAT HE HAD TO GO 'TO MEET A DEADLINE.' WHEN I TOLD HIM THAT HE SHOULD WAIT AND TALK TO HIS SUPVR AND TO SECURE THE FRIGHT; HE IGNORED MY SUGGESTION AND DROVE AWAY. HE DROVE AWAY WITH A SMASHED REAR R WINDOW WITH NUMEROUS LIGHTWEIGHT PIECES OF BANK WORK IN THE VAN. I APCHED THE FBO PERSONNEL TO SEE IF THEY WITNESSED THE EVENT; NEITHER (2 MEN) OBSERVED THE EVENT. DAMAGE TO THE PLANE WAS LIMITED TO THE R HORIZ STABILIZER: A SMALL 2 INCH DENT TO THE OUTBOARD STABILIZER CUFF AND A 3-4 INCH ABRASION TO THE DEICE BOOT. I CALLED MY ASSISTANT CHIEF PLT AND CHIEF PLT; LEFT A MESSAGE FOR BOTH; FLT DISPATCH AND MAINT; WHO ADVISED ME TO LEAVE THE AIRPLANE FOR COMPANY MAINT TO LOOK INTO THE DAMAGE. I SPOKE TO OUR CHIEF PLT AND EXPLAINED THE INCIDENT. THAT EVENING I TRAVELED TO COMPANY HEADQUARTERS AND DISCUSSED THE INCIDENT WITH THE CHIEF PLT AND A HUMAN RESOURCES REPRESENTATIVE. I WAS COUNSELED ON THE IMPORTANCE OF MONITORING ALL ACTIVITIES AROUND THE ACFT PRIOR TO AND DURING STARTUP; AND TAXI. POSSIBLE CAUSES: MY FAILURE TO ENSURE THAT THE AIRPLANE AND THE TRUCK HAD ADEQUATE CLRNC FROM ONE ANOTHER BEFORE BEGINNING A FLT. MY FAILURE TO ADVISE THE COURIER THAT HE WAS TOO CLOSE TO THE AIRPLANE AND INSTRUCT HIM TO MOVE HIS VAN. MY FAILURE FOR NOT ALLOWING THE COURIER TO CLR THE AREA BEFORE STARTING ENGS ON AN EMPTY LEG WITH NO DEADLINE/TIME-CRITICAL WORK. SUGGESTIONS TO PREVENT REOCCURRENCE: ADVISE PLTS TO INSTRUCT COURIERS TO MAINTAIN A SAFE DISTANCE BTWN THE AIRPLANE AND VEHICLE. DO NOT ALLOW COURIERS TOO CLOSE TO THE AIRPLANE. DO NOT START ENGS UNTIL THE ENTIRE AREA IS VERIFIED CLR OF COURIER VEHICLES AND OTHER OBSTRUCTIONS. DO NOT RUSH TO START ENGS TO BEGIN A FLT WHEN THERE MAY BE OBSTRUCTIONS IN THE IMMEDIATE AREA. DO NOT ALLOW YOURSELF TO ASSUME THAT YOUR AREA IS CLR OF OBSTRUCTIONS.

Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.