B767 WINGTIP STRUCK A TRUCK'S STAIR RAIL DURING PARKING PROC.

Narrative

WHILE TAXIING INTO GATE X AT BDL THE R WINGTIP OF OUR B767-300 CONTACTED A HANDRAIL AT THE TOP OF THE STAIRS OF A STAIR TRUCK. THE PARKING REQUIRES A 45 DEG L TURN JUST PRIOR TO STRAIGHTENING THE ACFT FOR THE GATE WITH NUMEROUS GND HANDLING EQUIP POSITIONED ALONG THE R SIDE. AS THE ACFT MADE THE L TURN; THE OBSTACLES DISAPPEARED FROM VIEW; THEREFORE; I OPENED MY WINDOW TO BETTER VIEW THE WING WALKER AND ENSURE THE R WINGTIP WOULD CLR THE STAIRS ON THE TRUCK. EVEN THOUGH THE WALKER INDICATED ALL CLR; I SAW THAT THE WINGTIP MIGHT TOUCH THE HANDRAIL ON THE STAIRS AND DIRECTED THE CAPT TO STOP THE ACFT. THE FORWARD MOTION AND L TURN OF THE ACFT CARRIED THE WINGTIP TOO FAR AND SUBSEQUENTLY CONTACTED THE HANDLE; BENDING IT UNDER THE LAST FEW FEET OF THE TIP AS THE AIRPLANE CAME TO A STOP. EVEN WHILE STOPPED AFTER TOUCHING THE STAIR HANDLE; THE FORWARD MARSHALLER STILL INDICATED ALL CLR AND MOTIONED TO CONTINUE TAXIING THE ACFT FORWARD. THE STAIR TRUCK WAS LOWERED BY LETTING AIR OUT OF THE TIRES SINCE PERSONNEL COULD NOT LOWER ITS STAIRS DUE TO MECHANICAL PROBS. WHEN THE ACFT WAS PARKED; I WENT OUTSIDE TO VIEW THE UNDERSIDE OF THE WINGTIP AND OBSERVED ONLY A SLIGHT RUBBING MARK FROM THE ROUND HANDLE WITH NO SKIN DAMAGE. THE TUBULAR STAIR HANDLE HOWEVER; WAS NOTICEABLY BENT. DUE TO THE NUMEROUS OBSTACLES AT THAT GATE; THE B767 SHOULD BE EITHER TOWED IN; ASSIGNED ANOTHER GATE; OR GND PERSONNEL SHOULD ENSURE CLRNC FROM ALL OBSTACLES.