Aircraft, Ramp Damage

[bigblockz8]

So I've been wondering for a while, what happens in these situations?

Back in my FDK days I got to see a brisk wind blow a SR22 into a Citation... The FBO had just untied it and fueled it, who's at fault? The FBO?

Ice Pilots NWT, SE03EP12, another airline's cargo bin is blown into the V-tab of a Buffalo C-46. The tab was destroyed completely. The pallet's carrier's wheels weren't locked. Buffalo sent the replacement but no mention of any legal/financial situation regarding it.

A friend's CFI was taxiing off of the rwy and ran over broken glass and got three flats.

Airport jetway malfunctions and rises up, bending an aircraft door.

Another jetway fails in winds and damages a 737.

Airport (tarmac) bus loses its brakes and hits a CRJ's winglet...I wonder why the guy couldn't steer...Air brakes on such buses.

Here's a really stupid one: FBO uses a TUG to move a 172 out of the hangar and the gear bends...Kinda shows how dumb the school and/or the A&P apprentice is...It was fixed because it's a leaseback. Oh Frednecks.

 

[weilke]

Those things are part of the reason why insurance for FBOs and airport operators is expensive (the usual slip+fall scams in the terminal lobby or in the public parking lot make up the rest).

 

[Dan Thomas]

Airport (tarmac) bus loses its brakes and hits a CRJ's winglet...I wonder why the guy couldn't steer...Air brakes on such buses.

Air brakes are like any other brakes: they need maintaining. The typical air brake system (FMVSS 121) has three separate methods of applying the brakes, but all of them rely on having brake linings and drums that aren't totally worn out. There are no idiot-proof (or bean-counter-proof) systems, including hydraulic brakes.

Dan

 

[AdamZ]

So I've been wondering for a while, what happens in these situations?

Back in my FDK days I got to see a brisk wind blow a SR22 into a Citation... The FBO had just untied it and fueled it, who's at fault? The FBO?

That one would be the FBO's responsibility.

Ice Pilots NWT, SE03EP12, a cargo pallet is blown into the V-tab of a Buffalo C-46. The tab was destroyed completely. The pallet's carrier's wheels weren't locked. Buffalo sent the replacement but no mention of any legal/financial situation regarding it.

That one is an inter company screw up so from a who's gonna pay it doesn't matter to much. The person responsible is the one who was charged with securing the Pallet.

A friend's CFI was taxiing off of the rwy and ran over broken glass and got three flats.

This depends, how and when the glass got there and whether the CFI could see it when he taxiied off the runway to the ramp or taxiway.

Airport jetway malfunctions and rises up, bending an aircraft door.

Again depends on why it malfunctioned. If it was a design defect then the the mfg would likely take the hit. If it was improper Mx by the Airport personal then the Airport takes the hit.

Another jetway fails in winds and damages a 737.

How high were the winds? Was it a tornado. If its a natural disaster then usually the insurance companies are going to subrogate through their inter-company arbitration program

Airport (tarmac) bus loses its brakes and hits a CRJ's winglet...I wonder why the guy couldn't steer...Air brakes on such buses.

Here's a really stupid one: FBO uses a TUG to move a 172 out of the hangar and the gear bends...Kinda shows how dumb the school and/or the A&P apprentice is...It was fixed because it's a leaseback. Oh Frednecks.

Who ever employs the guy who operated the tug. I have a friend who had his plane backed into a hangar wall by a line guy, his employer the FBO picked up the repair bills. Look stuff happens!

 

[Mason]

With regards to the jetway, it depends on who owns it and who is responsible for the maintenance. Many airlines own their own at hubs, no so much at spokes. Jetway damage to aircraft can also be caused by operator error (failure to set the auto-levelers).

Pulling a front passenger door off a DC-9 can be very expensive. Don't ask me how I know.

 

[bigblockz8]

That one would be the FBO's responsibility.



That one is an inter company screw up so from a who's gonna pay it doesn't matter to much. The person responsible is the one who was charged with securing the Pallet.

I forgot to mention that it wasn't their pallet. I think it was a WestJet pallet?

 

[bigblockz8]

Air brakes are like any other brakes: they need maintaining. The typical air brake system (FMVSS 121) has three separate methods of applying the brakes, but all of them rely on having brake linings and drums that aren't totally worn out. There are no idiot-proof (or bean-counter-proof) systems, including hydraulic brakes.

Dan

I meant that the issue was with the brake system, steering should have been fine. The news clip showed the bus heading straight into the winglet, could have steered to avoid it. Might have caught him off guard though.

 

[gprellwitz]

Look stuff happens!

That's the truth, and also why insurance companies exist.

Admittedly, it doesn't always work perfectly, but in general people wind up paying for the damage that they caused. And it doesn't mean that they were bad people or even negligent. As Adam says, stuff happens!

 

[Skip Miller]

I meant that the issue was with the brake system, steering should have been fine. The news clip showed the bus heading straight into the winglet, could have steered to avoid it. Might have caught him off guard though.

The driver "froze". Not uncommon.

What you do in situations like this (your whole post, not just the winglet issue) is notify your insurance company. It may take a while, but they will straighten out who is responsible for what. That's part of the deal when you buy insurance.

-Skip