Accident Boeing 737-8FE (WL) VH-YFT,

ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 319966

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Date:	Wednesday 7 December 2016
Time:	10:13
Type:	Boeing 737-8FE (WL)
Owner/operator:	Virgin Australia Airlines
Registration:	VH-YFT
MSN:	41028/5557
Year of manufacture:	2015
Engine model:	CFMI CFM56-7B24E
Fatalities:	Fatalities: 0 / Occupants:
Aircraft damage:	Minor, repaired
Category:	Accident
Location:	Hobart Airport, TAS (HBA) - Australia
Phase:	Taxi
Nature:	Passenger - Scheduled
Departure airport:	Hobart Airport, TAS (HBA/YMHB)
Destination airport:	Sydney-Kingsford Smith International Airport, NSW (SYD/YSSY)
Investigating agency:	ATSB
Confidence Rating:	Accident investigation report completed and information captured

Narrative:
A Boeing 737-8FE aircraft, registered VH-YFT (YFT) was parked on bay 3 at Hobart Airport, Tasmania, as the crew prepared to conduct Virgin Australia flight 1531 to Sydney, New South Wales. Another Virgin Australia Boeing 737-8FE aircraft, registered VH-VUP (VUP), was parked on bay 2, adjacent to YFT. Boarding had commenced for the flight (VA1321) to Melbourne. The bays required power-in and power-out taxiing, as there were no tug facilities available at Hobart Airport.

At about 10:12, the first officer of YFT requested a clearance to taxi and was advised of an Airbus A320 aircraft on their left taxiing out (to the south) and to follow that aircraft. The captain commenced turning the aircraft to the right, out of the bay, with the nose wheels just inside the marked lead-out line. During the turn, another A320 aircraft was taxiing in towards the parking bays from the north and the captain became uncertain as to which A320 to follow, and stopped the aircraft to clarify their taxi clearance. After stopping, the captain removed their hand from the tiller, which caused the nose wheels of YFT to centre.

After confirming the clearance, the captain recommenced taxiing. The dispatcher and ramp supervisor, both marshalling the aircraft, stood with their arms out and thumbs up to indicate YFT was clear of obstacles, particularly the wingtip of the parked aircraft (VUP). However, YFT then tracked towards the tail of VUP as it turned, and subsequently the left wingtip collided with the horizontal stabiliser of VUP. Both aircraft sustained substantial damage and no one was injured.

The ATSB summary report did not contain an Annex 13 Probable Cause statement.

Accident investigation: