What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
During taxi to parking, the aircraft struck the corner of a building and an FBO sign. The PIC indicated he was following the instructions of the marshaller; wing walkers were not used due to unavailablity. Damage to the left winglet leading edge and outboard skin was discovered upon post-flight walkaround. No other damage noted by maintenance. Winglet was replaced and aircraft returned to service.
Investigation identified the ground operations and cargo manual, chapter 10, ramp operations, 10,11.2 –guideperson and 10.11.3-wing walkers. Procedure states that wing walkers are not required for arrivals or departures “ unless determined by the guideperson “.
The investigating inspector completed counseling with air carrier flight operations and ground operations personnel regarding ground operations procedure. The air carrier issued a bulletin addressing parking operations in restrictive areas for flight crews to stop aircraft and request additional wing walkers for the parking operation. Bulletin will be incorporated into next manual revision.
As the FAA filed it
DURING TAXI TO PARKING, THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK THE CORNER OF A BUILDING AND AN FBO SIGN. THE PIC INDICATED HE WAS FOLLOWING THE INSTRUCTIONS OF THE MARSHALLER; WING WALKERS WERE NOT USED DUE TO UNAVAILABLITY. DAMAGE TO THE LEFT WINGLET LEADING EDGE AND OUTBOARD SKIN WAS DISCOVERED UPON POST-FLIGHT WALKAROUND. NO OTHER DAMAGE NOTED BY MAINTENANCE. WINGLET WAS REPLACED AND AIRCRAFT RETURNED TO SERVICE.
INVESTIGATION IDENTIFIED THE GROUND OPERATIONS AND CARGO MANUAL, CHAPTER 10, RAMP OPERATIONS, 10,11.2 –GUIDEPERSON AND 10.11.3-WING WALKERS. PROCEDURE STATES THAT WING WALKERS ARE NOT REQUIRED FOR ARRIVALS OR DEPARTURES “ UNLESS DETERMINED BY THE GUIDEPERSON “.
THE INVESTIGATING INSPECTOR COMPLETED COUNSELING WITH AIR CARRIER FLIGHT OPERATIONS AND GROUND OPERATIONS PERSONNEL REGARDING GROUND OPERATIONS PROCEDURE. THE AIR CARRIER ISSUED A BULLETIN ADDRESSING PARKING OPERATIONS IN RESTRICTIVE AREAS FOR FLIGHT CREWS TO STOP AIRCRAFT AND REQUEST ADDITIONAL WING WALKERS FOR THE PARKING OPERATION. BULLETIN WILL BE INCORPORATED INTO NEXT MANUAL REVISION.