What happened
On 20 February 2006, a Boeing 737-45D, registration SP-LLB, was taxiing to Stand 114 at London Heathrow Airport for a scheduled passenger service. While maneuvering into the parking position, the aircraft's right wingtip collided with a van that had been parked in a prohibited area of the stand.
As the aircraft approached the stand, the co-pilot observed a van parked within the hatched area on the right side of the stand. Despite noticing the vehicle, the flight crew did not consider it a hazard. The commander, aware of the limited space at the stand, initiated a tighter turn than the painted lead-in line suggested. This maneuver caused the aircraft to drift right of the centerline, leading to the impact. The collision caused structural damage to the wingtip fairings and destroyed the aircraft's navigation and strobe lights. There were no fatalities and no injuries to the 89 passengers or 6 crew members on board.
The investigation
The AAIB investigation examined the positioning of the aircraft, the responsibilities of the ground staff, and the visibility of the stand markings. Investigators found that the van driver, a ramp agent, had entered the hatched area with the intention of waiting for baggage trolleys to clear before moving. Although the driver was aware that parking in hatched areas was prohibited, he believed waiting with the engine running was permissible.
Ground staff members observed the potential conflict and attempted to signal the pilots to stop using hand signals, but these efforts were unsuccessful. The investigation also looked into the effectiveness of the emergency stop systems and the visibility of the stand from the ground staff's positions.
Findings
- The collision was caused by the aircraft making a tight turn that placed the right wingtip into the path of the parked vehicle.
- The van was parked in a prohibited hatched area, though the driver intended to vacate the space before the aircraft arrived.
- The commander was aware of the vehicle's presence but elected to continue the maneuver, believing the van would not be an obstacle.
- Ground staff members who noticed the danger were unable to effectively alert the pilots.
- The staff member responsible for verifying the stand was clear could not see the entire area once the aircraft had entered the stand.
- The emergency stop signal was not utilized because the staff member was not within immediate reach of the button when the conflict was recognized.