What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
On 09 may 2023, at Richmond International Airport (ric) Virginia, privacy data omitted (737-800), preparing for privacy data omitted, was struck by the ground handlers belt loader causing damage to the forward cargo door lower frame and the lower number 3 VHF antenna. At the time of the belt loader striking the aircraft, 4-6 passengers were on the aircraft along with other passengers in the jet way preparing to board. No passengers reported any injuries at this time
The aircraft was preparing to operate as privacy data omitted from ric to chicago o hare international airport, Illinois, when the belt loader ran into the aircraft. privacy data omitted Maintenance personnel prepped the aircraft for special flight permit to relocate the aircraft to paine field airport in Washington to accomplish a major repair to the forward cargo door frame. The repair was accomplished to the aircraft skin and the bearstrap at the lower edge of the door. The number 3 VHF antenna was also replaced.
The accident report from the cargo handling contractor at ric reported that the brakes failed on the belt loader causing it to strike the aircraft. No other causes were noted to have facilitated this incident. The belt loader operator was fully trained and qualified.
As the FAA filed it
ON 09 MAY 2023, AT RICHMOND INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT (RIC) VIRGINIA, ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ (737-800), PREPARING FOR ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^, WAS STRUCK BY THE GROUND HANDLERS BELT LOADER CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE FORWARD CARGO DOOR LOWER FRAME AND THE LOWER NUMBER 3 VHF ANTENNA. AT THE TIME OF THE BELT LOADER STRIKING THE AIRCRAFT, 4-6 PASSENGERS WERE ON THE AIRCRAFT ALONG WITH OTHER PASSENGERS IN THE JET WAY PREPARING TO BOARD. NO PASSENGERS REPORTED ANY INJURIES AT THIS TIME
THE AIRCRAFT WAS PREPARING TO OPERATE AS ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ FROM RIC TO CHICAGO O HARE INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, ILLINOIS, WHEN THE BELT LOADER RAN INTO THE AIRCRAFT. ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL PREPPED THE AIRCRAFT FOR SPECIAL FLIGHT PERMIT TO RELOCATE THE AIRCRAFT TO PAINE FIELD AIRPORT IN WASHINGTON TO ACCOMPLISH A MAJOR REPAIR TO THE FORWARD CARGO DOOR FRAME. THE REPAIR WAS ACCOMPLISHED TO THE AIRCRAFT SKIN AND THE BEARSTRAP AT THE LOWER EDGE OF THE DOOR. THE NUMBER 3 VHF ANTENNA WAS ALSO REPLACED.
THE ACCIDENT REPORT FROM THE CARGO HANDLING CONTRACTOR AT RIC REPORTED THAT THE BRAKES FAILED ON THE BELT LOADER CAUSING IT TO STRIKE THE AIRCRAFT. NO OTHER CAUSES WERE NOTED TO HAVE FACILITATED THIS INCIDENT. THE BELT LOADER OPERATOR WAS FULLY TRAINED AND QUALIFIED.