What happened
On 17 August 1998, a Boeing 747-400, registration JA8955, was parked at Stand L23 at Heathrow Airport following the completion of a scheduled passenger flight. During the unloading process, two ground operators were working near the aircraft's rear freight door. One individual was operating a mobile baggage loader, while the second operator activated the door opening mechanism via a switch located adjacent to the door.
As the door began to swing open, it made contact with a metal handrail attached to the baggage loader. This impact resulted in minor damage to the rear cargo door. There were no injuries to the crew or the 376 passengers on board, and no injuries were reported among the ground staff.
The investigation
The investigation established that a communication breakdown occurred during the procedure. The operator managing the baggage loader requested that the second operator verify the clearance between the equipment and the door. However, due to high ambient noise levels in the vicinity of the aircraft, this instruction was not heard.
Findings
- The primary cause of the contact was the failure to communicate clearance instructions effectively due to high noise levels.
- The physical impact was caused by the door striking a metal handrail on the mobile loader.
- The aircraft underwent an inspection and was subsequently cleared to return to service.