20001124023109I

(-23) REC'D CALL FROM ORD FSDO GEOGRAPHIC AIRWORTHINESS UNIT SUPERVISOR CONCERNING AN INCIDENT THAT OCCURRED AT CHICAGO O'HARE AIRPORT ON 24 NOV 2000. REPORTED TO AIRPORT TO BEGIN INVESTIGATION. AIR WISCONSIN FLIGHT 5842, A CL-600 REGIONAL JET REGISTRATION NUMBER N404AW WAS STRUCK ON THE LEFT WINGTIP WHILE TAXIING SOUTHBOUND ON THE ALPHA TAXIWAY AFTER RECEIVING TAXI CLEARANCE TO RUNWAY 22L FOR DEPARTURE. A DELTA TUG, WHICH WAS ATTEMPTING TO CROSSALPHA TAXIWAY(WESTBOUND) BETWEEN THE ALPHA 20 AND ALPHA 21 INTERSECTION FAILED TO YIELD TO THE TAXIING CL-600. AFTER COLLIDING WITH THE WINGTIP, THE DELTA TUG WAS DRAGGED APPROX. 20 FEET BEFORE OVERTURNING. THE TUG DRIVER, WHO SUFFERED MINOR INJURIES, WAS REPORTED BY A WITNESS TO HAVE JUMPED FROM THE TUG BEFORE IT ROLLED OVER. THE A/C STOPPED ON THE ALPHA TAXIWAY. CAPTAIN NOTIFIED ATC GROUND CONTROL THAT THEY HAD BEEN HIT AND REQUESTED EQUIPMENT. THERE WERE NO INJURIES TO THE 13 PASSENGERS OR CREW OF 3 ON THE AIR WISCONSIN AIRPLANE. PASSENGERS AND CREW EXITED THE AIRPLANE VIA THE ENTRANCE DOOR STAIRS AND WERE BUSSED TO THE TERMINAL. THE DRIVER OF THE DELTA TUG WAS TRANSPORTED TO A LOCAL HOSPITAL, TREATED FOR A SORE NECK AND MINOR BRUISING (-23) CONT'D OF HIS ARMS AND LEGS THEN RELEASED. THE TUG DRIVER WAS TICKETED BY DEPT. OF AVIATION POLICE FOR FAILURE TO YIELD TO AN A/C AND RECKLESS DRIVING (TOO FAST FOR CONDITIONS). A/C N404AW WAS INSPECTED BY AIR WISCONSIN MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL AT CHICAGO O'HARE AND DAMAGE TO LEFT WING TIP AREA WAS DETERMINED TO BE BEYOND LOCAL MAINTENANCE REPAIR CAPABILITY. TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE WAS REQUESTED IN EVALUATING EXTENT OF A/C DAMAGE. BOMBARDIER, THE A/C MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND PROVIDED TECHNICAL GUIDANCE. A TEMPORY REPAIR WAS MADE TO THE DAMAGED LEFT WING TIP AND A/C WAS INSPECTED AND FOUND SAFE FOR A MAINTENANCE FERRY FLIGHT TO APPLETON, WISCONSIN FOR PERMANENT REPAIRS UNDER AIR WISCONSIN CONTINUING FERRY AUTHORIZATION. THE DELTA TUG SUFFERED EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE UPPER CAB AREA, STEERING WHEEL, STEERING COLUMN, STEERING GEARBOX, DRIVERS SEAT AND DASH ASSEMBLY. THE CAPTAIN AND FIRST OFFICER OF AIR WISCONSIN FLIGHT 5842 WERE INTERVIEWED BY FAA INSPECTORS. BOTH PILOTS STATED THAT THE A/C EXTERIOR LIGHTING WAS CONFIGURED FOR A NORMAL TAXI AND THAT NEITHER SIGHTED THE DELTA TUG BEFORE IT COLLIDED WITH THE A/C. INVESTIGATING INSPECTOR REVIEWED ATC INCIDENT REPORT AND LISTENED TO AUDIO TAPES OF GROUND CONVERSATION BETWEEN PILOTS OF FLIGHT 5842 AND ATC GROUND CONTROL. NOTHING REMARKABLE WAS LEARNED FROM ATC READINGS. INTERVIEWED A NORTHWEST AIRLINES RAMP EMPLOYEE WHO WAS DRIVING A TUG APPROXIMATELY 20 FEET BEHIND THE DELTA TUG PRIOR TO DELTA TUG STRIKING AIRCRAFT. WITNESS STATED THAT HE DID NOT OBSERVE ANY EXTERIOR LIGHTS ON THE AIR WISCONSIN AIRPLANE, BUT HEARD IT AND TRIED TO WARN BELTA TUG BY FLASHING LIGHTS, BUT TO NO AVAIL. CONFIGURATION OF EXTERIOR LIGHTING ON INCIDENT AIRCRAFT WHEN IT WAS HIT BY TUG COULD NOT BE POSITIVELY ESTABLISHED SUBSEQUENT TO COLLISION, HOWEVER INFORMATION INSPECTOR WAS ABLE TO GATHER DID NOT INDICATE LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED. PICTURES OF AIRCRAFT N404AW AND THE DELTA TUG WERE OBTAINED BY INVESTIGATING INSPECTOR. ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^