Narrative:
A Ryanair Boeing 737-700 (EI-SEV) contacted the tail of a parked Jet2 Boeing 737-300 (G-GDFB) as it was taxiing at East Midlands, U.K.
At the time of the accident East Midlands Airport was operating under Low Visibility Procedures (LVPs). The reported Runway Visual Range (RVR) was 300 to 325 m. EI-SEV arrived from Stansted Airport (STN) and landed on runway 27 before following taxiway Alpha eastwards to the Central Apron.
Due to the poor weather and their elevated position in the control tower, air traffic controllers could not see the aircraft, taxiway or apron. G-GDFB was not painting on the Controllers Surface Movement Radar (SMR) display. With no other information about stand occupancy available to them, ATC were unaware that S24 was occupied.
Accordingly, the ground movements controller cleared EI-SEV to taxi the shortest route to S22 which was via Quebec (Q), the western entry point to the apron.
The aircraft captain taxied EI-SEV as cleared, turning left from Taxiway Quebec towards Stand S22. The flight crew became aware of an aircraft parked on S24 and noted that the space available to pass behind it looked "tight". Seeing that the parked aircraft was on its stop bar, they were reassured that there would be enough room to pass behind, provided they accurately tracked the stand taxi-lane centreline.
As EI-SEV crossed behind G-GDFB the commander brought the aircraft to a slow walking pace and the co-pilot monitored the right wing tip. From his perspective it appeared to be clear, but as they overlapped EI-SEVs winglet struck G-GDFBs right horizontal stabiliser. The captain brought the aircraft to a halt and reported the collision to ATC.
Conclusion:
Due to the poor weather conditions and limitations of the SMR, EI-SEV was given an unachievable taxi clearance. The fallibility of the human eye in accurately judging relative distance at range seduced the crew into thinking that safe separation had been achieved.
Less than minimum standard taxi separations existed on S20-25 but there were no published warnings, limitations or guidance to alert ATC or flight crews to the risks. Flight crew need to remain alert to the potential for consistently safe outcomes desensitising them to latent airfield hazards.
Damaged on the ground
EGNX 300620Z 10005KT 070V140 0100 R27/0250 FG OVC001 04/04 Q1026
07:20 UTC / 08:20 local time:
EGNX 300720Z 10004KT 0200 R27/0400 FG OVC001 05/05 Q1026
accident date: 30-04-2019
type: Boeing 737-73S (WL)
registration: EI-SEV
| Status: | Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
| Date: | Tuesday 30 April 2019 |
| Time: | 07:47 |
| Type: |  Boeing 737-73S (WL) |
| Operator: | Ryanair |
| Registration: | EI-SEV |
| MSN: | 29078/187 |
| First flight: | 1999-01-12 (20 years 4 months) |
| Engines: | 2 CFMI CFM56-7B22 |
| Crew: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 2 |
| Passengers: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 0 |
| Total: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 2 |
| Aircraft damage: | Substantial |
| Aircraft fate: | Repaired |
| Location: | East Midlands Airport (EMA) ( United Kingdom)
|
| Phase: | Taxi (TXI) |
| Nature: | Ferry/positioning |
| Departure airport: | London-Stansted Airport (STN/EGSS), United Kingdom |
| East Midlands Airport (EMA/EGNX), United Kingdom | |
| Flightnumber: | FR69 |
A Ryanair Boeing 737-700 (EI-SEV) contacted the tail of a parked Jet2 Boeing 737-300 (G-GDFB) as it was taxiing at East Midlands, U.K.
At the time of the accident East Midlands Airport was operating under Low Visibility Procedures (LVPs). The reported Runway Visual Range (RVR) was 300 to 325 m. EI-SEV arrived from Stansted Airport (STN) and landed on runway 27 before following taxiway Alpha eastwards to the Central Apron.
Due to the poor weather and their elevated position in the control tower, air traffic controllers could not see the aircraft, taxiway or apron. G-GDFB was not painting on the Controllers Surface Movement Radar (SMR) display. With no other information about stand occupancy available to them, ATC were unaware that S24 was occupied.
Accordingly, the ground movements controller cleared EI-SEV to taxi the shortest route to S22 which was via Quebec (Q), the western entry point to the apron.
The aircraft captain taxied EI-SEV as cleared, turning left from Taxiway Quebec towards Stand S22. The flight crew became aware of an aircraft parked on S24 and noted that the space available to pass behind it looked "tight". Seeing that the parked aircraft was on its stop bar, they were reassured that there would be enough room to pass behind, provided they accurately tracked the stand taxi-lane centreline.
As EI-SEV crossed behind G-GDFB the commander brought the aircraft to a slow walking pace and the co-pilot monitored the right wing tip. From his perspective it appeared to be clear, but as they overlapped EI-SEVs winglet struck G-GDFBs right horizontal stabiliser. The captain brought the aircraft to a halt and reported the collision to ATC.
Probable Cause:
Conclusion:
Due to the poor weather conditions and limitations of the SMR, EI-SEV was given an unachievable taxi clearance. The fallibility of the human eye in accurately judging relative distance at range seduced the crew into thinking that safe separation had been achieved.
Less than minimum standard taxi separations existed on S20-25 but there were no published warnings, limitations or guidance to alert ATC or flight crews to the risks. Flight crew need to remain alert to the potential for consistently safe outcomes desensitising them to latent airfield hazards.
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Classification:
Ground collisionDamaged on the ground
METAR Weather report:
06:20 UTC / 07:20 local time:EGNX 300620Z 10005KT 070V140 0100 R27/0250 FG OVC001 04/04 Q1026
07:20 UTC / 08:20 local time:
EGNX 300720Z 10004KT 0200 R27/0400 FG OVC001 05/05 Q1026
Photos
accident date: 30-04-2019
type: Boeing 737-73S (WL)
registration: EI-SEV
Map
This map shows the airport of departure and the intended destination of the flight. The line is connecting ADS-B datapoints from Flightradar24.
Distance from London-Stansted Airport to East Midlands Airport as the crow flies is 148 km (93 miles).
Accident location: Exact; deduced from official accident report.
Distance from London-Stansted Airport to East Midlands Airport as the crow flies is 148 km (93 miles).
Accident location: Exact; deduced from official accident report.
This information is not presented as the Flight Safety Foundation or the Aviation Safety Network’s opinion as to the cause of the accident. It is preliminary and is based on the facts as they are known at this time.
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