Flight crew reported striking a baggage cat that was staged inside the gate area when taxiing under mashaller's control for parking. The baggage cart caused damage to the wing; requiring maintenance action.
Synopsis
Flight crew reported striking a baggage cat that was staged inside the gate area when taxiing under mashaller's control for parking. The baggage cart caused damage to the wing; requiring maintenance action.
Narrative
We were cleared into Gate X by the marshaling crew. Both wing walkers and marshaller cleared us in. We checked the best we could to make sure we were clear of all obstacles. When we were slowing down to stop at the gate; barely moving; we felt something that wasn't right. We stopped; checked around us to see if we could see anything and did not. The marshaller was still waving us in as nothing wrong. When the Captain let off the brakes to inch forward; it still wasn't right and we stopped immediately. At the same time; someone came from behind and waved off the marshaller. That is when we found out that there was a baggage cart in the way that we bumped and scratched the wing. They moved the cart and we got parked.There is no clearly defined safety area between Gate Y and Gate X in ZZZ. Both wing walkers and the marshaller cleared us in and we thought we were clear of any objects. We were still being waved to keep coming forward when we were trying to figure out what happened the first time we stopped. There is a fuel cart that stays on the ground at the gate there that makes it hard for the FO (First Officer) to clearly see the wing and objects behind it.There needs to be a clear defined safety area between every gate so it is cut and dry if you are clear of all objects. There should also never being anything that blocks either pilots view of the areal around them when they park.
Second reporter narrative
Upon reaching the assigned gate Gate X; the Captain stopped the aircraft. We waited for the ground crew to hold off the baggage car traffic. The ground marshaller signaled for us to enter and park. From our point of view the safety envelope looked clear. We continued to enter to park. Just a few feet from our stopping position the marshaller gave the signal to slow down to ready and stop. At this time the Captain and I felt a slight irregularity. At this point movement was at a near bare minimum. The Captain immediately stopped. The marshaller signaled for us to continue forward; and we felt it again. By this time; I looked over and saw commotion between the ground handlers. An empty baggage cart just outside of the safety envelope was being pushed by the wing approximately two thirds out from the root.From the perspective of the flight deck the area appeared to be clear. Before entering it was visible there was a baggage cart; however it appeared to be abeam or behind the fueling equipment which itself was within the red square box. Logically it was assumed it was not within the safety envelope. The lines that represent the safety envelope are either faded or not well laid out at this gate. The ground handlers seemed confident to marshal us in; so we continued forward. Beyond a certain point the visibility from the flight deck is minimal. We were just only a few feet away from our stopping position and the confidence of the marshaller was our primary focus when it happened.The safety area at those gates is poorly marked. Most of the paint if any is difficult to see. A lot of the times the area is marked by cones that are moved frequently. New fresh paint marking the entire area to outline a clear and defined area would make it easier for both flight crew and ground crew to determine what defines the entire safety envelope.
Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.