Narrative:

We taxi into gate at amsterdam schipol international using ground taxi guidance system. The lighting system appeared to be operating because of sun angle reflecting through the lens of guidance system. On our dc-10 we passed the point where the stop bars should have come on. We hit and damaged the #1 engine cowling. Fortunately, the captain was taxiing at less than 1 KT, so damage was minimal. We had numerous ground service personnel at the gate area and they did not react as if anything was wrong with the guidance system. I believe our airlines should require a marshaller as well as the guidance system as this system is unreliable and cannot perform the 'human' function of stopping an aircraft if ground obstructions or other factors enter the taxi area.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: DC-10 ACFT DAMAGED DURING RAMP OP ACFT PARKING PROC.

Narrative: WE TAXI INTO GATE AT AMSTERDAM SCHIPOL INTL USING GND TAXI GUIDANCE SYS. THE LIGHTING SYS APPEARED TO BE OPERATING BECAUSE OF SUN ANGLE REFLECTING THROUGH THE LENS OF GUIDANCE SYS. ON OUR DC-10 WE PASSED THE POINT WHERE THE STOP BARS SHOULD HAVE COME ON. WE HIT AND DAMAGED THE #1 ENG COWLING. FORTUNATELY, THE CAPT WAS TAXIING AT LESS THAN 1 KT, SO DAMAGE WAS MINIMAL. WE HAD NUMEROUS GND SVC PERSONNEL AT THE GATE AREA AND THEY DID NOT REACT AS IF ANYTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE GUIDANCE SYS. I BELIEVE OUR AIRLINES SHOULD REQUIRE A MARSHALLER AS WELL AS THE GUIDANCE SYS AS THIS SYS IS UNRELIABLE AND CANNOT PERFORM THE 'HUMAN' FUNCTION OF STOPPING AN ACFT IF GND OBSTRUCTIONS OR OTHER FACTORS ENTER THE TAXI AREA.

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.