GV flight crew describes a taxi incident causing damage to their left winglet while being marshalled into the ramp by FBO personnel. The left winglet contacts the left horizontal stabilizer of a Citation parked at the ramp entrance.
Synopsis
GV flight crew describes a taxi incident causing damage to their left winglet while being marshalled into the ramp by FBO personnel. The left winglet contacts the left horizontal stabilizer of a Citation parked at the ramp entrance.
Narrative
Left winglet struck a Citation 560XL while taxiing onto the ramp. We approached the ramp on Taxiway Y and spotted the Marshaller in front of the FBO entrance. We turned the aircraft very slowly onto the ramp following the Marshaller's guidance. The Captain and I both acknowledged it was going to be tight with a Citation 560XL parked on the left side and a GIII on the right side. As we began to maneuver between the two parked aircraft; I was watching out the right side for clearance and the Captain out the left side. A second line service person quickly approached the right side to wing walk us through. We did not have assistance on the left side. The Marshaller gave us two turns to the right as we maneuvered through. The Captain looked back out the left side as we turned; then looked forward. When he looked back forward; the Marshaller was signaling us to stop. The Captain quickly hit the brakes; but it was too late as we hit the tail of the Citation 560XL simultaneously. Our left upper winglet struck the Citation 560XL's left horizontal stabilizer approximately 4-5 inches from the tip of the stabilizer at about a 45 degree angle. The FBO's Operations Manager quickly ran to the aircraft. He was in the line office and witnessed the incident. The FBO has surveillance video on their ramp and I asked if this incident was recorded. He told me their surveillance system is out of service. The ramp entrance to the FBO we were being directed to use by the Marshaller is not the normal entrance (our experience) for large aircraft at this FBO. In our many past visits to this FBO with this aircraft we have always been marshalled in at the southern entrance to the ramp. Do not trust a marshaller to keep you clear. Always have a wing walker; regardless of your familiarity with the surroundings. Although we were moving very; very slowly due to concern; we should have and could have stopped and requested a wing walker on the left side of the aircraft. Minimum taxi clearance guidelines need to be developed and added to our SOP's. It will remove the burden from the next crew if clear instructions are part of our formal procedures.
Second reporter narrative
We entered the ramp slowly maneuvering between a GIII and a Citation XL. I was following the line personnel's instructions to taxi to the front of the FBO. The line person gave me instructions to turn right and then straighten out. I complied with the instruction. I glanced out the left window to check on my left wing (it looked like we were not close enough to hit the other aircraft) and then returned to the front windshield for further instructions. I then received another right turn command from the line personnel and then a command to straighten out. I complied again. I started to look out the left window again and noticed out of the corner of my eye that the line man was signaling something. I then saw he was signaling me to stop; so I stopped the aircraft. By then we had impacted the Citation in the left horizontal stabilizer with my left winglet. I set the brake and proceeded with the shutdown procedure. We did not have a wing walker on the left wing during this taxi in. I would recommend that if we taxi this aircraft (or any aircraft) into this entrance of the ramp (or any tight ramp) and if there are aircraft parked at the throat of this ramp entrance; we should have a wing walker on each wing prior to proceeding past the park aircraft.
Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.