An aircraft was aggressively spun around and damaged after being caught in jet efflux at London Biggin Hill Airport, according to a report by the Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB).
Incident Details
- The incident occurred on June 26, 2024.
- A Piper J3C-65 ‘Cub’ aircraft (G-BBLH) was taxiing along Taxiway L when it was hit by the jet blast from a Bombardier Global 6000 (M-SFPL).
- The force of the jet efflux spun the Piper aircraft around, causing the pilot to lose control, and the left wingtip struck the ground multiple times.
- The pilot declared an emergency, shut down the engine, and was assisted by nearby personnel to move the aircraft away from the hazardous area.
Investigation Findings
The AAIB report, published this week, found that:
- M-SFPL was not aligned with the yellow ground markings designed to direct jet efflux away from Taxiway L.
- The crew of the Bombardier Global 6000 had initiated a wing anti-ice system test, which increased engine idle thrust, potentially intensifying the jet blast.
Safety Actions Taken
Following the incident, the maintenance organisation responsible for apron movements has:
- Reminded its operations team of the importance of aligning aircraft with ground markings before starting engines.
- Publicised the event internally to raise awareness of safety procedures when positioning parked aircraft.
Key Takeaways from the Report
The AAIB report highlighted the importance of proper aircraft positioning and awareness of active engines to prevent similar accidents.
The report concluded:
“The conditions for this accident were created when M-SFPL was parked perpendicular to the apron edge for engine start rather than in alignment with yellow ground markings.”
“Had any of the pilots involved been aware of the risk posed at that time to G-BBLH by M-SFPL’s jet efflux, the confliction could likely have been avoided by mutual coordination over the radio.”
Authorities and aviation safety officials will continue to monitor airport safety practices to prevent similar incidents in the future.
