Ramp Service Agent reported ground damage to the L4 door. Communication issues complicated determining when the damage actually occurred.
Synopsis
Ramp Service Agent reported ground damage to the L4 door. Communication issues complicated determining when the damage actually occurred.
Narrative
The incident in question happened on Day 0; Aircraft X; arriving at the gate in ZZZ. As the Crew Chief on the concourse I was notified by our Maintenance Tower that there may be damage on the l-4 door; reported by catering. I sent a mechanic out with this information for further investigation. Shortly afterwards the mechanic called my desk requesting I come out to the aircraft. Upon arrival to the 4-l door a tear was found in the aft lower corner area of the door with displaced material rolled upward and inward toward the door seal. The catering personnel stated after raising the truck and opening the 4-l door; upon placing the plate between the truck and doorway for the carts to roll into the doorway; that this is when they spotted the damage and notified their Tower which then notified Maintenance Tower. For this damage to have occurred the door would have to be in the opened position with something raising upward making contact with the door continuing to raise upward; tearing the door rolling the displaced material upward and inward then the equipment would then need to be lowered away from the door and damaged area before the door then could be closed. Catering stated they raised the bed upward to the proper height; opened the door and did not raise or lower the door after that until after the incident was investigated. The aircraft could fly into ZZZ with this damage with no indication inside the aircraft (door squealing) because the door seal was intact and secure. When referring to Engineering Authorization (E/A) XXXXXX; the damaged area of the door was removed and inspected. Temporary repair instructions item #11 states to accomplish leak/pressurization test ensuring no door squealing; pressurization is constant and the door seal does not bulge outward when pressurized. Since the door seal near the damaged area was not worked during the repair only the damaged material was removed this verifies that the aircraft could have been damaged before arrival at ZZZ with no indications of damage from inside the aircraft during flight. From Day 0 to now this repair has been inspected and reevaluated with final repair at or before 60;000 flight cycles from time of repair.Catering is an extra pair of eyes seeing any damage on our aircraft and reporting this to Maintenance so this can be addressed. The persons reporting this I have heard have been suspended. This is only hearsay but if it is the case then a speedy investigation must be accomplished getting all the facts available with insight from all the groups involved.Aircraft damage is an ongoing part of everyday operation. This is going to happen again and we need all groups to investigate each incident with all the facts being put on the table for everyone's input to be heard.
Second reporter narrative
Was instructed by Lead to proceed to the gate at Approximately XA00 to check on damage on service Door Left Aft. Saw damage and call Lead Mechanic turned over situation. I do not know; nor can I say the situation was caused by the Catering Crew. That was the end of my involvement in the situation.
Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.