What happened
On 29 August 2001, at approximately 09:41 UTC, a Boeing 737-59D, registration G-BVKD, was parked at Stand C14 within London Heathrow Airport. While the aircraft was stationary, the crew experienced an impact on the forward right side of the fuselage. The incident involved a baggage tug that was towing several trolleys and moving in a primarily south-easterly direction.
The investigation
Investigators determined that the collision occurred when the front offside section of the tug driver's cabin made contact with the aircraft. A subsequent inspection of the airframe revealed a one-inch puncture in the skin, located just ahead of the starboard cargo door. The driver of the tug reported that the sun had temporarily blinded him during his approach to the aircraft, contributing to the collision.
Findings
- The primary cause of the impact was the driver being blinded by the sun while maneuvering the vehicle.
- The collision resulted in a small puncture to the aircraft skin.
- There were no injuries to the 42 passengers or 7 crew members on board.
Safety action
Following the investigation, a recommendation was issued to the Airport Operators Association to evaluate the feasibility and cost-effectiveness of installing proximity sensors on ground handling vehicles that frequently operate in close proximity to aircraft.