Incident Overview
On February 16, 2010, at approximately 0635 Pacific standard time, a SkyWest Airlines Embraer EMB-120ER, registration N226SW, operating as United Express flight 6199, sustained minor damage when it taxied into a jet bridge while parking at its assigned terminal gate 82 at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), California. The flight was a scheduled domestic passenger service under 14 CFR Part 121, originating from Carlsbad, California at 0554. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and an instrument flight plan had been filed.
Crew and Occupants
The aircraft carried two flight crew members, one flight attendant, and 28 passengers. None were injured. There were no reported ground injuries.
Sequence of Events
The captain reported that as they approached gate 82 at a normal taxi speed, he observed the lead-in line, a parked fuel truck on the right, the jet bridge on the left, and the marshaller. Feeling confident the airplane could clear all obstacles, the captain continued following the marshaller's directions. While staying visually with the marshaller, the captain noticed the marshaller's hands beginning to raise for a stop signal when the left propeller struck the jet bridge. The first officer, who was monitoring the right side for clearance, did not see the jet bridge on the left. He turned back to the marshaller and saw arms moving up; before the wands crossed, he felt an impact.
The marshaller stated that as the airplane entered the alley, he concentrated on the left side of the airplane (right side of the aircraft) due to a fuel truck parked too close to the envelope line, which he wanted to avoid. When he gave the customary stop signal, the left engine propeller hit the jet bridge. The marshaller realized seconds later that the airplane had stopped on the CRJ stop line instead of the EMB line. He attributed the misjudgment to focusing on the fuel truck and not the jet bridge.
Airport and Ground Operations
According to the SkyWest Station Operations Manual, marshallers use hand/arm signals with wands to guide airplanes. The marshaller cleared the aircraft to proceed and gave appropriate forward signals; only one marshaller was present, consistent with company policy when local conditions permit.
The station manager reported that gate 82 is used for both turboprop (Embraer) and turbojet (Bombardier CRJ) aircraft. At the time, the jet bridge was parked with its two wheels inside its assigned non-use box, as it is not used for EMB-120ER aircraft, and was not in motion.
Physical Evidence and Reenactment
An NTSB investigator examined the ramp area and found a single yellow nose wheel lead-in line with two perpendicular stop lines: the first marked "EMB" and the second (closer to the terminal) marked "RJ50," approximately 18 feet apart. The incident aircraft's nose wheel was centered on the lead-in line and positioned on the "RJ50" stop line, indicating the aircraft had passed the correct EMB stop line.
The left engine had missing portions of two of its four propeller blades. Oil spray residue was on the left fuselage, and a pool of oil was under the left engine and wing. Propeller blade fragments were embedded in the dented jet bridge, and others were found beneath the aircraft. The left engine nacelle was bent, and multiple dents from blade fragments were on the left fuselage. A sensor on the jet bridge was also damaged.
A reenactment on March 1, 2010, involving NTSB, FAA, and SkyWest personnel, used an EMB-120ER towed into gate 82. It confirmed that both pilots had a clear view of the gate and jet bridge when looking out the left cockpit window, and the captain could see the left engine and propeller as it approached the jet bridge just before the "RJ50" stop line.