Narrative:
On the evening of 27 December 2001 A TAM Airbus A330 was planning a departure from Zurich via Frankfurt to São Paulo. At about the same time Crossair flight CRX874, an Avro RJ100, was preparing for departure to London City Airport.
The Avro RJ100 taxied from the stand via taxiway A to remote de-icing position east for a de-icing procedure. Since the remote de-icing area east was still occupied by two aircraft, the crew could only partially roll the aircraft into the by-pass area RWY28. The TAM Airbus A330 was de-iced at the gate B33 and rolled via taxiway A to the holding point for runway 28. In the area of the junction of taxiway A and the remote de-icing position east the right wingtip of the Airbus A330 collided with the vertical tail of the waiting Crossair RJ100.
The crew of the RJ100, which was waiting with parking brake set, felt a shock of their aircraft, whereupon the commander saw the rolling Airbus 330-200 passing on the left. Assuming that the wing of the TAM airplane had grazed the Crossair plane, the crew of CRX874 immediately informed Zurich Tower at the appropriate frequency. The crew of the TAM A330-200 did not notice anything of the collision and was alerted by the call on the TWR frequency that they might have had a collision with another aircraft. The TAM crew then taxied back to gate B33.
Causes:
The collision occurred because the crew of the rolling TAM8071 did not realize that CRX874, which had stopped on the right side of the taxiway, had not yet fully rolled into the 'standby for deicing' position and the available space is insufficient to allow a plane of the size of an A330-200 to pass.
To the incident may have contributed:
- Possible distraction of the copilot of TAM8071, responsible for obstacle clearance on the right side, by the frequency change to the TWR frequency.
Damaged on the ground
| Status: | Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
| Date: | Thursday 27 December 2001 |
| Time: | 20:39 |
| Type: |  Avro RJ100 |
| Operator: | Crossair |
| Registration: | HB-IYX |
| MSN: | E3357 |
| First flight: | 1999-08-28 (2 years 4 months) |
| Engines: | 4 Lycoming LF507-1F |
| Crew: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: |
| Passengers: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: |
| Total: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: |
| Aircraft damage: | Minor |
| Aircraft fate: | Repaired |
| Location: | Zürich-Kloten Airport (ZRH) ( Switzerland)
|
| Phase: | Standing (STD) |
| Nature: | International Scheduled Passenger |
| Departure airport: | Zürich-Kloten Airport (ZRH/LSZH), Switzerland |
| London City Airport (LCY/EGLC), United Kingdom | |
| Flightnumber: | 874 |
On the evening of 27 December 2001 A TAM Airbus A330 was planning a departure from Zurich via Frankfurt to São Paulo. At about the same time Crossair flight CRX874, an Avro RJ100, was preparing for departure to London City Airport.
The Avro RJ100 taxied from the stand via taxiway A to remote de-icing position east for a de-icing procedure. Since the remote de-icing area east was still occupied by two aircraft, the crew could only partially roll the aircraft into the by-pass area RWY28. The TAM Airbus A330 was de-iced at the gate B33 and rolled via taxiway A to the holding point for runway 28. In the area of the junction of taxiway A and the remote de-icing position east the right wingtip of the Airbus A330 collided with the vertical tail of the waiting Crossair RJ100.
The crew of the RJ100, which was waiting with parking brake set, felt a shock of their aircraft, whereupon the commander saw the rolling Airbus 330-200 passing on the left. Assuming that the wing of the TAM airplane had grazed the Crossair plane, the crew of CRX874 immediately informed Zurich Tower at the appropriate frequency. The crew of the TAM A330-200 did not notice anything of the collision and was alerted by the call on the TWR frequency that they might have had a collision with another aircraft. The TAM crew then taxied back to gate B33.
Probable Cause:
Causes:
The collision occurred because the crew of the rolling TAM8071 did not realize that CRX874, which had stopped on the right side of the taxiway, had not yet fully rolled into the 'standby for deicing' position and the available space is insufficient to allow a plane of the size of an A330-200 to pass.
To the incident may have contributed:
- Possible distraction of the copilot of TAM8071, responsible for obstacle clearance on the right side, by the frequency change to the TWR frequency.
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Classification:
Ground collisionDamaged on the ground
Photos
Map
This map shows the airport of departure and the intended destination of the flight. The line between the airports does not display the exact flight path.
Distance from Zürich-Kloten Airport to London City Airport as the crow flies is 754 km (471 miles).
Accident location: Approximate; accuracy within a few kilometers.
Distance from Zürich-Kloten Airport to London City Airport as the crow flies is 754 km (471 miles).
Accident location: Approximate; accuracy within a few kilometers.
This information is not presented as the Flight Safety Foundation or the Aviation Safety Network’s opinion as to the cause of the accident. It is preliminary and is based on the facts as they are known at this time.
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