Incident Overview
An accident occurred involving a belt-loader and an airplane during passenger debarkation. The airplane was chocked, with the left engine secured and the right engine running. The seat belt sign had been turned off, and passengers were standing in preparation to deplane.
Sequence of Events
According to the investigation source, a belt-loader initially stopped approximately 10 feet from the airplane. It then proceeded toward the cargo door area at a high rate of speed. The operator jumped from the loader, and the loader's vertical fin sliced through the underside of the airplane.
Operator Actions
The operator stated that when attempting to move the belt-loader closer, he first moved the control stick to the forward position. The belt loader did not move, so he then pushed on the accelerator. Subsequently, the belt loader proceeded quickly toward the airplane, prompting him to jump off.
Post-Accident Examination
A post-accident examination of the belt-loader revealed no mechanical discrepancies.