What happened
On 22 October 2000, a Boeing 737-59D, registration G-OBMX, was taxiing toward parking stand B27R at London Heathrow Airport. The aircraft was operating a public transport flight. As the aircraft entered the stand, the stand guidance system was active, indicating the area had been inspected and cleared for use.
As the aircraft approached its final parking position, a member of the ground crew signaled the flight crew to halt and shut down the right-hand engine. Upon inspection, it was discovered that the engine had made contact with a set of low steps. During this contact, the engine ingested a pallet clip that had been left on the steps.
The investigation
The investigation examined the circumstances surrounding the movement of the aircraft and the environment at the stand. It was noted that the aircraft's Auxiliary Power Unit (APU) was unserviceable, which necessitated the use of a ground power cable. At the time of the incident, a ground crewman was actively repositioning this cable.
Furthermore, the investigation established that the area was subject to several simultaneous activities. Another aircraft was in the process of completing a pushback from an adjacent stand, contributing to a complex ground environment.