The pilot of the PA 28 161 landed at Manchester Airport after nightfall. The pilot was cleared to taxi to his parking area. He identified his marshaller who was wearing a fluorescent coat and had two illuminated batons.
The pilot of the PA 28 161 landed at Manchester Airport after nightfall. The pilot was cleared to taxi to his parking area. He identified his marshaller who was wearing a fluorescent coat and had two illuminated batons.
Following a series of turns the aircraft was passing parallel to a hangar on its right before making a final ninety degree turn to the left.
The pilot was concentrating on the marshaller to his left while glancing to the right he was aware that his right wingtip was close to the hangar door. When he felt a slight check, he realised that the wing had contacted the door and immediately brought the aircraft to a halt and applied the brake. The pilot then signalled to the marshaller, by raising his right hand palm out, that he had come to a halt.
As he began his aircraft shutdown checks, the pilot became aware of the marshaller at the left window of the aircraft. The marshaller had seen the aircraft come to rest, saw that the pilot’s window was open and considered that the pilot had gestured to him to approach.
They had a short discussion about the wing contacting the hangar door and the marshaller turned and walked away from the aircraft. As he did so the right sleeve of his coat contacted the rotating propeller and he was aware of being drawn into the propeller before ending up on the ground in front of the aircraft. He sustained abrasions to his body and serious injuries to his right hand.
Note: General Aviation Safety Sense 6B deals with ‘Aerodrome Sense’ and includes information on standard marshalling signals.
