# Accident 20230509003359A: Boeing 737-8KN, Richmond, VA, May 9, 2023

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 9, 2023, 12:45 local time
- Place: Richmond, VA
- Airport: Richmond International
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Ground/Ramp/Ma
- Operating rules: Air carrier (Part 121)
- Operator: SCNA
- Location: 37.5052° N, 77.3197° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at RICHMOND INTL (RIC), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.5052&lon=-77.3197&mi=10
- Aircraft: N837SY, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N837SY) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Boeing 737-8KN (registry code 1384612, https://openairdocs.org/model/boeing-737-8kn) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: CFM International CFM56-7B series (registry code 13803, https://openairdocs.org/engine/cfm-international-cfm56-7b-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BOEING 737-8KN
- Reported engine: CFM INTL. CFM56-7B
- People aboard: 10
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Airline transport
- Pilot flight hours: 9,250 total
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230509003359A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

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.

## NTSB investigation

None matched to this report by aircraft and date. Search the NTSB's own records: https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-main-public/basic-search

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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