Incident Details
On 27 September 2001 at 1939 UTC, an Airbus A319 (registration G-EUPV) was taxiing to parking Stand A9 at London Heathrow Airport after a flight from Belfast. The weather was fine, and sunset had occurred at 1745 UTC, with the stand floodlit. The airport operator requires the left engine to be shut down before turning onto Stand A9 due to restricted maneuvering space. The engine was shut down as required, and the commander taxied the aircraft following the yellow centerline marking and the automatic stand guidance system.
As the aircraft maneuvered, the left engine contacted a baggage belt loader that was parked unattended on the stand. The commander did not see the belt loader and remained unaware of the collision until notified after shutdown.
Aircraft and Operational Context
The Airbus A319-132 was equipped with two International Aero V2522-A5 turbofan engines and was manufactured in 2001. The commander, aged 50, held an Airline Transport Pilot Licence and had 12,700 total flying hours, including 410 hours on type. There were 8 crew and 55 passengers on board; no injuries were reported.
Contributory Factors
A responsible person on the ground is required to check that the stand area is clear before the automatic guidance system is activated. Illumination of the stand guidance lights indicates to flight crews that the stand is clear. In this case, it could not be determined whether the stand had been incorrectly checked or whether the vehicle subsequently moved into the stand area. The commander bears ultimate responsibility for ensuring the stand is clear, but despite the stand lighting, the flight crew did not see the belt loader.