Incident Overview
On 29 August 2001, an Airbus A321-231, registration G-MIDL, sustained damage to its forward left door while parked at Stand C45, London Heathrow Airport. The aircraft was operated by a public transport carrier and was preparing for a scheduled flight to Amsterdam.
Sequence of Events
Passenger boarding had been completed, and final predeparture procedures, including load sheet completion, were in progress. The external boarding steps positioned at door 1L (left forward door) were raised by ground staff prior to being removed from the vicinity of the aircraft. As the steps were raised, they forced the aircraft door upward. This action caused the door's bearings to be damaged and twisted the upper door hinge.
Damage and Injuries
The nature of damage was confined to the door bearings and the upper door hinge. The aircraft's crew of eight and 185 passengers were on board at the time, but no injuries were reported.
Contributing Factors
The commander noted that standard ground handling procedures had not been followed by the ground staff involved in the operation. The report did not specify any other factors.
Investigation Findings
The investigation did not state a formal probable cause. The aircraft's door was damaged due to non-compliance with standard handling procedures during the removal of the boarding steps.