FlarePath

What happened

NTSB summary, verbatim

The captain reported that upon arrival at the ramp area they had to wait for marshalers to arrive so that the airplane could be guided to the gate. As the marshalers were guiding the airplane, the captain lost sight of the ground power unit (GPU) on the right side and queried the first officer several times about whether they were clear of the GPU. The first officer responded that they were clear of the GPU; however, the right engine's propeller blades struck the GPU as the marshaler was crossing his arms to stop movement. The GPU struck the fuselage and damaged the propeller assembly. Federal Aviation Administration inspectors reported that the GPU was not parked in its designated spot and was located about 7 feet aft of its required parking spot.

Photographs

5the aircraft, and what the investigators found

Wreckage and site documentation · 5 photographs from the docket

Photographs are NTSB docket attachments — works of the US government, in the public domain. Captions are the Board’s own.

Probable cause

the Board's determination

The failure of ramp personnel and the flight crew to maintain clearance from ground equipment while taxiing. Contributing to the accident was the improper positioning of the ground equipment.

Occurrence sequence

2 stepsNTSB coding · CICTT taxonomy

1 · Taxi-from runway
Ground handling event
2 · Taxi-from runway
Ground collision
defining event

Findings

3 causal · 0 contributing

CAUSE
Aircraft › Aircraft handling/service › Parking/securing — Incorrect use/operation
CAUSE
Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring equip/instruments — Flight crew
CAUSE
Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Ground equipment — Contributed to outcome

NTSB analysis

from the final report

The captain reported that upon arrival at the ramp area they had to wait for marshalers to arrive so that the airplane could be guided to the gate. As the marshalers were guiding the airplane, the captain lost sight of the ground power unit (GPU) on the right side and queried the first officer several times about whether they were clear of the GPU. The first officer responded that they were clear of the GPU; however, the right engine's propeller blades struck the GPU as the marshaler was crossing his arms to stop movement. The GPU struck the fuselage and damaged the propeller assembly. Federal Aviation Administration inspectors reported that the GPU was not parked in its designated spot and was located about 7 feet aft of its required parking spot.

DE HAVILLAND DHC-8Mesa Airlines