Description

On 14 January 2010, two Ryanair Boeing 737-800 aircraft were operating scheduled passenger flights from Girona to Las Palmas and Turin respectively and had taxied from adjacent gates at Girona in normal day visibility in quick succession. The Turin-bound aircraft taxied first but because it was early at the holding point for its Calculated Take Off Time (CTOT), the other aircraft was designated first for take off and during the overtaking manoeuvre in the holding area, the wing tip of the moving Las Palmas aircraft hit the horizontal stabiliser of the Turin bound aircraft causing minor and substantial damage to the respective aircraft. None of the respective 81 and 77 occupants were injured and both aircraft taxied back to their gates.

Investigation

An Investigation into the collision was carried out by the CIAIAC. It was established that both aircraft were only fitted with steering tillers at the left hand pilot position, which meant that prior to sufficient speed being reached on the planned take off roll for directional control by use of the rudder to be effective, both aircraft were being controlled by their respective commanders.

It was noted that the stop bar had recently been moved further from the runway because of the planned introduction of Cat 2/3 ILS operations and that this action had reduced the minimum lateral clearance between an aircraft correctly parked at the stop bar and an overtaking aircraft maintaining the marked centreline.