Incident Overview

Date: Friday 10 May 2019
Aircraft Type: de Havilland Canada DHC-8-311 Dash 8
Owner/operator: Air Canada Express, opb Jazz Aviation
Registration Number: C-FJXZ
Location: Toronto?Lester B. Pearson International Airport, Ontario (YYZ) – ÿ Canada
Phase of Flight: Taxi
Status: Substantial, written off
Casualties: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 56
Component Affected: Left hand rear cargo door and the no.1 propeller.Left hand rear cargo door and the no.1 propeller.
Investigating Agency: TSBTSB
Category: Accident
An Air Canada Express DHC-8-311 aircraft collided with a fuel truck while taxiing to gate at Toronto Pearson Airport. Five persons were injured. The flight was diverted to Toronto due to poor visibility and a lack of landing capability. The aircraft spun and sustained significant damage to the left side of the flight deck.An Air Canada Express DHC-8-311 aircraft collided with a fuel truck while taxiing to gate at Toronto Pearson Airport. Five persons were injured. The flight was diverted to Toronto due to poor visibility and a lack of landing capability. The aircraft spun and sustained significant damage to the left side of the flight deck.

Description

Air Canada Express flight 8615, a DHC-8-311, collided with a fuel truck while taxiing to gate at Toronto Pearson Airport in Canada. Five persons were injured in the accident. Flight 8615 departed Toronto on May 9, 23:03 hours local time, on a domestic flight to Sudbury. Visibility at Sudbury was poor and the flight was not able to land. The flight crew elected to return to Toronto, where a normal landing was made at 01:25 hours local time (May 10). As the aircraft was taxiing to the gate, a collision occurred with a fuel truck. The aircraft spun and sustained serious damage to the left side of the flight deck. The left hand rear cargo door was pushed inward and the no.1 propeller also suffered damage. Findings as to causes and contributing factors: 1. The limited field of view to the right of the fuel tanker driver’s cab caused by the front elevating service platform and its structural elements, along with the condensation on the windows, resulted in the driver being unable to see the aircraft in time to avoid the collision. 2. The captain had a clear field of view in the direction of the oncoming fuel tanker but the visibility was limited due to darkness, rain, and reflected light, and he did not see the oncoming tanker during the critical moments before the collision.

Primary Cause

Limited field of view caused by elevated service platform and condensation, leading to the fuel tanker driver’s inability to see the aircraft.Limited field of view caused by elevated service platform and condensation, leading to the fuel tanker driver’s inability to see the aircraft.

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