What happened
On October 19, 2014, at 20:10 UTC, an Airbus A330-223, registration CS-TOI, arrived at Simón Bolívar International Airport in Caracas, Venezuela, from Madeira International Airport. After landing, air traffic control cleared the crew to proceed to parking position at stand 2 به 25. During the arrival at the stand, which was being conducted via manual marshalling, the aircraft's number one engine collided with the passenger boarding bridge. The impact caused significant damage to the engine, resulting in the aircraft being declared AOG (Aircraft on Ground).
The investigation
The GPIAA investigation examined the ground handling procedures, the airport infrastructure, and the crew's operational status. The inquiry focused on the effectiveness of the marshalling signals, the adequacy of the aircraft stand markings, and the composition of the ground assistance team. The investigation also reviewed the coordination between the airport service provider and the airline regarding the aircraft's arrival time.
Findings
Several critical factors contributed to the collision:
- Lack of specific stand markings: There were no designated markings on stand 25 specifically for the Airbus A330 family, making precise positioning difficult.
- Incomplete ground crew: Due to the aircraft arriving earlier than forecasted, the ground handling team was understaffed, lacking the fourth essential member required for the standard marshalling procedure.
- Improper reference points: A cone had been incorrectly placed at position AB340, which served as a primary reference point for the marshalling signals.
- Nonstandard procedures: The parking maneuver utilized a nonstandard procedure to align the aircraft with the stand mark.
- Operational deficiencies: The investigation identified a lack of clear leadership within the parking team (comprising the marshaller, wing man, and headset man) and a lack of standardization between airport operations manuals and ground marshalling SOPs.
- Crew fatigue: The flight crew had been on duty for over 12 hours, which may have contributed to reduced situational awareness.
Safety action
Following the incident, the Airport Manager of Simón Bolívar International Airport implemented the safety recommendations provided by the GPIAA. Additionally, TAP Portugal issued a digital warning to ground handling personnel to enhance safety during parking operations and updated its Operations Manual to correct references regarding ground markings and signals.