Narrative:

While being directed out of a parking space by a signalman, the aircraft's left wing tip struck the passenger loading bridge. I had taxied forward approximately 3' and was in a right turn when this occurred. Damage was minimal to the wing tip, but required some sheet metal work. After reading the reports of the passenger loading bridge operator, and the signalman, I believe the accident was avoidable. The signalman was aware that the loading bridge was not in the proper position, but still thought that the aircraft's wing tip would clear. He apparently was not aware that the turning geometry of an medium large transport causes an outward movement of the wing tip after a turn is commenced. Also, the loading bridge operator was attempting to get the attention of the signalman to tell him that the loading bridge was not clear, but would not move away any further. As a crew, we had no communication with the ground crew, except for hand signals, and because of snow and restr visibility, could not clearly see the wing tip. Procedures for taxiout at syr are fairly new, and I feel that they should be better designed to include more training for signalmen and agents--plus a policy of using a tug whenever there is any question of clearance.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR MLG AT SYR HITS WING TIP ON JET RAMP DUE TO GND SIGNALMAN'S UNFAMILIARITY WITH THE WING TIP TURNING RADIUS.

Narrative: WHILE BEING DIRECTED OUT OF A PARKING SPACE BY A SIGNALMAN, THE ACFT'S LEFT WING TIP STRUCK THE PAX LOADING BRIDGE. I HAD TAXIED FORWARD APPROX 3' AND WAS IN A RIGHT TURN WHEN THIS OCCURRED. DAMAGE WAS MINIMAL TO THE WING TIP, BUT REQUIRED SOME SHEET METAL WORK. AFTER READING THE RPTS OF THE PAX LOADING BRIDGE OPERATOR, AND THE SIGNALMAN, I BELIEVE THE ACCIDENT WAS AVOIDABLE. THE SIGNALMAN WAS AWARE THAT THE LOADING BRIDGE WAS NOT IN THE PROPER POS, BUT STILL THOUGHT THAT THE ACFT'S WING TIP WOULD CLR. HE APPARENTLY WAS NOT AWARE THAT THE TURNING GEOMETRY OF AN MLG CAUSES AN OUTWARD MOVEMENT OF THE WING TIP AFTER A TURN IS COMMENCED. ALSO, THE LOADING BRIDGE OPERATOR WAS ATTEMPTING TO GET THE ATTN OF THE SIGNALMAN TO TELL HIM THAT THE LOADING BRIDGE WAS NOT CLEAR, BUT WOULD NOT MOVE AWAY ANY FURTHER. AS A CREW, WE HAD NO COM WITH THE GND CREW, EXCEPT FOR HAND SIGNALS, AND BECAUSE OF SNOW AND RESTR VISIBILITY, COULD NOT CLEARLY SEE THE WING TIP. PROCS FOR TAXIOUT AT SYR ARE FAIRLY NEW, AND I FEEL THAT THEY SHOULD BE BETTER DESIGNED TO INCLUDE MORE TRNING FOR SIGNALMEN AND AGENTS--PLUS A POLICY OF USING A TUG WHENEVER THERE IS ANY QUESTION OF CLRNC.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.