A PARKING MD82 IS ALLEGED TO HAVE BLOWN A WBD CARGO CONTAINER OFF ITS TRAILER NEAR THE ARR GATE AT LAX; CA.
Synopsis
A PARKING MD82 IS ALLEGED TO HAVE BLOWN A WBD CARGO CONTAINER OFF ITS TRAILER NEAR THE ARR GATE AT LAX; CA.
Narrative
TAXIING INTO GATE AT LAX. THIS GATE REQUIRES A HARD R ALIGNMENT TURN AFTER APCHING GATE STRAIGHT IN; FOLLOWED BY FURTHER FORWARD MOVEMENT TO THE PARKING SPOT. OUR OPS ADVISORY PAGES SAY TO LEAVE BOTH ENGS RUNNING AND TO USE IDLE PWR DURING PARKING. I BELIEVE I MADE THE INITIAL TURN TO THE GATE USING IDLE PWR. IN ANY EVENT; AFTER PARKING AT THE GATE; I THOUGHT I HEARD SOMEONE ON RAMP RADIO FREQ SAY THAT THE AIRPLANE THAT JUST PARKED BLEW OVER SOME BAGGAGE CARTS. I WENT OUTSIDE TO LOOK AND SAW NO BAGGAGE CARTS BLOWN OVER; ALTHOUGH THERE WAS ONE L-TYPE WBD CONTAINER SITTING ON THE GND DIRECTLY BEHIND MY ACFT ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE RAMP. IF MY JET BLAST CAUSED THAT CONTAINER TO FALL OFF ITS TRAILER; WHICH I'M NOT SURE IT DID; IT MUST NOT HAVE BEEN LOCKED ON ITS TRAILER. I DO NOT RECALL USING ANY EXCESSIVE THRUST; ALTHOUGH DURING THE ALIGNMENT MANEUVER; IT IS POSSIBLE I INSTINCTIVELY ADDED SOME THRUST. I AM SUBMITTING THIS RPT TO REITERATE THE NEED TO BE CONSTANTLY VIGILANT AND TO BE WARY OF COMPLACENCY IN HABIT PATTERNS (SUCH AS MAKING ALIGNMENT TURNS BY ADDING A SLIGHT AMOUNT OF THRUST).
Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.