History of Flight
On 17 January 2006 at 2315 hours local time, a Boeing 777-200 (registration OE-LPC) landed at Singapore Changi Airport after a flight from Melbourne, Australia. The aircraft was assigned to park at bay F58 in Terminal 2. This was the first time the flight crew had used a parking bay in that part of the terminal equipped with an RLG Type B Aircraft Docking and Guidance System (ADGS), which has a single pair of amber lights. The crew was accustomed to using RLG Type C systems elsewhere in Terminal 2, which feature three pairs of amber lights. Information about the different ADGS types at Terminal 2 was not available on board the aircraft.
The pilot-in-command, acting as pilot flying, taxied the aircraft into bay F58 using the ADGS. The pilot's technique involved entering the bay at about 5 knots and gradually braking to about 1 knot by the time the amber lights illuminated. The pilot did not recall whether the green lights were on when turning into the bay. Just before the amber indication, the pilot commented to the pilot not flying that something was incorrect with the indications. The lights turned amber and then quickly red; the pilot applied full brakes when the lights turned red. The red lights then flickered and went off.
The pilot not flying remembered seeing the single pair of amber lights but expected three pairs before a red light. He looked out the right window and then heard the pilot's comment, looked back and saw the red lights flickering before they went off.
Ground personnel at the bay included an ADGS operator and an assistant. Both reported that the aircraft appeared to be taxiing at a higher than normal speed, but the Quick Access Recorder data showed the speed was 5 knots during the turn into the bay. The ADGS operator operated the system in manual mode. He rotated the switch to amber when the aircraft was about 6 meters from the stop line, then to red at 3 meters when the aircraft did not slow, and finally released the deadman's switch for an emergency stop. The aircraft came to a stop 6 meters beyond the stop line, with its left engine in contact with the aerobridge.
Damage to Aircraft
The left engine cowling sustained a puncture at the one o'clock position from contact with the aerobridge.
Other Damage
The aerobridge's automatic level sensor was damaged.
Injuries
There were no injuries in this incident.
Personnel Information
The pilot-in-command, aged 58, held an Austrian ATPL with 19,012 total flying hours (4,576 on type). The co-pilot, aged 28, held an Austrian ATPL with 4,592 total flying hours (546 on type). Both had valid medical certificates and recent checks.
Aircraft Information
The aircraft was a Boeing 777-200, serial number 29313, registration OE-LPC, powered by two GE90 engines.
Aerodrome Information
Singapore Changi Airport had two terminals. Terminal 1 used a laser-based automatic ADGS. Terminal 2 used two manual ADGS types: RLG Type B (one pair of amber lights) and RLG Type C (three pairs of amber lights). The ADGS at bay F58 was RLG Type B. The azimuth guidance indicator was calibrated for the left seat pilot.