Boeing 737-800 Collision With Truck: GSE Operator’s Driver’s License Had Expired – NSIB
Report from the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) says the national driver’s license of the GSE operator in the case of ground collision between a conveyor belt TUG660 truck with fleet number 49/9 operated by Skyway Aviation Handling Company (SAHCO) Plc and a parked Arik Air’s Boeing 737-800 aircraft, had expired.
The February 3, 2022, incident that occurred at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport Abuja, involved aircraft that had nationality and registration marks 5N-MJQ and was owned and operated by Arik Air Limited.
According to NSIB report, causal factor of the incident was failure of the brake proportioning valve resulting from wear and tear while contributory factor was failure to monitor and diagnose for failing components of the brake system of the TUG660 Truck.
According to NSIB report on the incident, safety recommendation reads: “SAHCO PLC should ensure adherence to the provisions section 19 (1) of the Civil Aviation (Investigation of Air Accidents and Incidents) Regulations 2019 regarding tampering with evidence.”
On February 3, 2022, an Arik Airline Boeing 737-800 with nationality and registration marks 5N-MJQ departed Murtala Muhammed International Airport (DNMM) Lagos at 15:10 h on a scheduled flight to Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (DNAA) Abuja.
The flight arrived at DNAA at 16:50 h, passengers disembarked, and the aircraft was prepared for the next leg, which was DNAA to Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport (DNKN) Kano. While the boarding was ongoing, the Pilot Flying reported hearing a loud bang. The crew came down and saw a conveyor belt truck belonging to Skyway Aviation Handling Company (SAHCO) LTD under the aircraft towards the forward cargo hold. Upon inspecting the scenario, they discovered that the equipment had broken the VHF (high frequency) antennae and punctured the aircraft’s fuselage.
According to the Ground Safety Equipment (GSE) operator, he was busy servicing the toilet browser for aero contractors’ aircraft when the ramp officer called him to remove the conveyor belt truck from the aero contractors’ Airbus aircraft to Arik’s B737-800 5N-MJQ to offload cargo.
The GSE operator further stated that he mounted the equipment, reversed, applied the brakes, and then moved forward. When positioning on the Arik Air B737 5N-MJQ, he tested the brakes twice, and his foot was steadily on the brake pedal. Suddenly, the brake went flat, and the equipment couldn’t be stopped, eventually hitting the aircraft. He added that after removing the truck from the underneath of the aircraft, the brake was tested and found defective. Passengers were disembarked and returned to the departure hall.
The serious incident occurred at 17:10 h in visual meteorological condition (VMC). There was no injury to persons but the aircraft was substantially damaged. The head protector of TUG 660 was damaged.
Findings were that Arik Air 5N-MJQ was boarding passengers at the International Apron of Nnamdi
Azikiwe International Airport. While boarding, the Pilot heard a loud bang. The Ground Service Equipment operator was operating a toilet browser on another aircraft when he was called to operate conveyor belt service on 5N-MJQ. The GSE operator steadily pressed the brake pedal and suddenly noticed that his foot went flat, and the truck would not stop. The truck went right under the aircraft and stopped due to the impact. The right-hand VHF antennae of 5N-MJQ were destroyed. 5N-MJQ forward cargo hold was torn and ripped open. The conveyor belt truck sustained minor damage. The GSE operator’s national driver’s license had expired. The airside driver’s permit of the GSE operator was valid. The conveyor belt truck had been removed from the scene before the arrival of safety investigators.”
