Air carrier flight crew reported they were advised of possible wingtip contact with a pole during taxi at BNA in their efforts to avoid another air carrier aircraft.
Synopsis
Air carrier flight crew reported they were advised of possible wingtip contact with a pole during taxi at BNA in their efforts to avoid another air carrier aircraft.
Narrative
During cruise flight; ATC notified us that BNA Tower contacted them and said someone reported they thought we clipped a pole" on our departure. This was a very vague report and we had climbed to altitude and had been at cruise without any unusual indications or adverse flight control characteristics; so we elected to continue to DEN. This report was passed down line and Maintenance met the aircraft at the gate in DEN. Maintenance noted some missing paint on bottom edge of the left scimitar and removed aircraft from service for further inspection. The only possible place an incident could have happened was exiting the ramp in BNA. We had pushed off Gate XX and were instructed to use taxi line Y1 to exit ramp. Another aircraft had pushed onto line Y2 near spot 25 and was being disconnected from pushback tug while not quite centered on line Y2; somewhat toward our Y1 line. I taxied our aircraft slightly to the left to allow for the other aircraft's position. I watched the left wingtip until we were around the other aircraft; never seeing any contact between the wingtip and the temporary construction fencing for the D Concourse; nor were there any reports of any contact with fence from the cabin.Although I do not believe we struck the fence; the wiser choice would have been to stop and wait for the other aircraft to vacate the portion on our taxi space rather than trying to adjust my taxi for his presence. Pushback crews should also give greater attention to disconnect aircraft where they do not impede on other taxi lanes."
Second reporter narrative
After we had switched to Memphis Center on climbout; the Controller asked us if we were okay; because Tower had told them we had a potential wingtip strike on a pole. The aircraft was handling normally and had no abnormal indications. The only thing we could think might be related to this was when we were taxiing out of the ramp; another aircraft had been pushed back onto Y2 near Spot 25. Ramp shifted us over to Y1. As we approached the other aircraft; wingtip clearance appeared questionable; so we maneuvered slightly left to avoid them. During this maneuver; I was monitoring the right wingtip; to ensure clearance from the other aircraft; while the Captain monitored the left wingtip clearance from objects adjacent to the taxiway. At no point did we see; hear; or feel anything that would have led us to suspect hitting something. Neither did we get any reports from the cabin. The remainder of the flight was uneventful. Maintenance met us at DEN and saw some minor scratches on the left wingtip; and pulled the jet from the following flight to inspect it.Wingtip clearance lines should be painted on Y1 and Y2; or a Wing Walker should monitor wingtip clearance between any taxiing aircraft and one that is starting engines
Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.