According to the pilot, after landing he taxied the airplane to the general aviation tiedown area on the airport. The pilot stated that he normally taxis the airplane through the open space between the second and third tiedown rows on the ramp. The pilot’s normal tiedown space was occupied and he initiated a 180-degree turn to exit the row for an alternate location. The pilot stated that, during the turn, he misjudged the space needed to safely execute the maneuver and struck a parked airplane with his airplane’s right wing tip. According to an FAA inspector, the airplane incurred substantial damage to the right wing trailing edge section main spar attachment point, buckling of the right wing flap and right wing tip.
March 5, 2013, Newnan, Ga., Ercoupe 415-C
According to the pilot, after landing he taxied the airplane to the general aviation tiedown area on the airport. The pilot stated that he normally taxis the airplane through the open space between the second and third tiedown rows on the ramp. The pilot’s normal tiedown space was occupied and he initiated a 180-degree turn to exit the row for an alternate location.
Key Takeaways:
- A pilot misjudged space during a 180-degree turn after finding their usual tiedown spot occupied.
- The maneuver resulted in the pilot's airplane striking a parked aircraft.
- The pilot's airplane incurred substantial damage to its right wing, affecting the main spar attachment, flap, and wing tip.
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