AN EMB-145 SUFFERS A LEFT WING TIP STRIKE WHEN BEING WAVED INTO PARKING DURING A NIGHT OP AT ORD; IL.

Narrative

AS THE CAPT TAXIED THE ACFT INTO OUR GATE; LEAD MARSHALL USED LIGHTED WANDS AND 2 WING WALKERS ALSO USED LIGHTED WANDS (TOTAL OF 3 GUIDEMEN). THE LEAD MARSHALL GUIDED US ALL THE WAY TO A STOP AT THE GATE AS BOTH WING WALKERS SAID WE WERE CLR OF ANY CONFLICT. AS THE PARKING BRAKE WAS SET AND THE JET BRIDGE HOOKED UP TO THE ACFT; OPS INFORMED US THAT WE STRUCK A BAGGAGE CART ON THE CAPT'S SIDE WITH THE WINGTIP. AS WE INVESTIGATED WE CALLED THE RAMP SUPVR WHO DISCOVERED THE CONCRETE BARRIER TO MARK A SAFE AREA FOR THE PLANE TO PARK WITHIN HAD BEEN MOVED INWARD APPROX 2 FT. A BAGGAGE CART WAS PARKED ON THE CORRECT SIDE OF THE BARRIER BUT BECAUSE THE BARRIER WAS MOVED THERE WAS NOT ENOUGH CLRNC. THE RAMP SUPVR SAID THE FUEL TRUCKS OFTEN HIT THE BARRIERS WHILE TRYING TO FUEL THE ACFT. THE LENS COVER WAS THE ONLY DAMAGE AND MAINT MADE AN ENTRY IN THE MAINT LOG AND THE PLANE RETURNED TO SVC FOR THE NEXT FLT. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 526734: THE AREA IS SURVEYED AND MARKED WITH CEMENT BARRIERS; IT IS WELL MARKED AND WELL LIT. YOU CANNOT SEE THE WINGTIP FROM THE COCKPIT IN THIS MODEL ACFT. I WAS TOLD ALL THE GATE AREAS WERE GOING TO BE CHECKED TO MAKE SURE OTHER BARRIERS WERE NOT MISPLACED.