CHI00LA076

They reported seeing the refueling truck parked at a 45 degree angle to the lead in line on the right side of the airplane. The truck then moved forward and contacted the right side of the airplane near the nose gear where it came to rest. The airplane just arrived at the gate and the jet bridge was not yet in place. The airplane was pushed several feet to the left by the impact. One witness reported the truck was traveling between 20 and 30 miles per hour and another witness reported it was traveling 'a little to fast.' Witnesses who saw and helped the fuel truck driver out of his vehicle after the accident reported that he appeared to be 'dazed'. At least 20 passengers who stood up immediately when the airplane reached the gate were 'thrown about' when the impact occurred. The driver of the refueling truck did not remember the impact and reported he must have 'blacked out.' A medical and sleep study evaluation of the driver showed he suffered from severe obstructive sleep apnea and significant hypersomnolence. The same driver was involved in another occurrence in October, 1999. He reported 'dosing off' just prior to that collision.

On February 21, 2000, at 1730 central standard time, a Fokker F28 MK 100, N1403M, operated by American Airlines as Flight 1801, was parked at gate K-17 at the O'Hare International Airport, Chicago, Illinois, when it was struck by a refueling truck. The truck driver received serious injuries. Four passengers and two flight attendants received minor injuries. The flight crew, 1 flight attendant and 43 passengers were not injured. The airplane received substantial damage, as did the truck. The flight was operating under 14 CFR Part 121. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The flight originated at Rochester, Minnesota, at 1643 cst.

According to witnesses, Flight 1801 had just arrived at the gate and the jet bridge was not yet in place against the airplane. They reported seeing the refueling truck parked at a 45 degree angle to the lead in line on the right side of the airplane. The truck then moved forward until it contacted the right side of the airplane near the nose gear where it came to rest. Witnesses reported the airplane was pushed several feet to the left by the impact. One witness reported the truck was traveling between 20 and 30 miles per hour and another witness reported it was traveling "a little to fast." Witnesses who saw and helped the fuel truck driver out of his vehicle after the accident reported that he appeared to be "dazed".

One of the flight attendants reported that at least 20 passengers stood up immediately when the airplane reached the gate. She reported that these passengers were "thrown about" inside the airplane when the impact occurred. The two flight attendants that were injured had left their seats to prepare the airplane for arrival.

The driver of the refueling truck told an American Airlines Ground Service Manager that he remembered "...starting to pull in front of the wing, and then becoming aware that he was in the truck cab, and was against the aircraft. He said he really did not remember how he got out of the truck. ... I asked him if he had been having any trouble staying awake earlier in the day. He told me that he felt fine, and was not having any problems. He told me that he had apparently just 'blacked out'."

The driver of the fuel truck was hospitalized for treatment and observation, and was released on February 24, 2000. In addition, the driver underwent a sleep study. A neurologist who evaluated the driver during and following his hospitalization after the accident reported, "I met with the patient reviewing the results of his sleep study which shows severe obstructive sleep apnea and significant hypersomnolence. The short REM latency and REM intrusions on MSLT may be seen with severe sleep apnea. The possibility of coexistent narcolepsy is felt to be unlikely, and cannot be assessed until the patient is well treated for his sleep apnea."

The same driver was involved in another accident on October 30, 1999, in which the refueling truck he was driving contacted two other refueling trucks in the Fuel Center parking lot. The driver reported he was going to back into a parking spot when he "dosed off" and was awakened by the impact. Following this collision American Airlines concluded "[The Driver] used poor judgement when he reported to work after not getting sufficient rest." No corrective action was recommended.