While operating a forklift and clearing the roll cage of the wingtip of a crj-900 aircraft; mechanic...

Attributes
ACN	815625
Time
Date	200812
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : zzz.airport
State Reference	US
Altitude	agl single value : 0
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : zzz.tower
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	CRJ 900 (all) Canadair Regional Jet 900
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	ground : maintenance
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	maintenance : technician
ASRS Report	815625
Events
Independent Detector	other other : 1
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	other other
Factors
Maintenance	contributing factor : non availability of parts
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Aircraft Maintenance Human Performance
Primary Problem	Maintenance Human Performance

Narrative:

I was assigned to do a check on aircraft X in the upper hangar. The aircraft needed 4 main tires. There were no tires in the upper hangar. I took it upon myself to get the 4 main tires. I went down to the lower hangar to get a forklift to move the 4 main tires to the upper hangar. The forklift was in the middle of the hangar floor. There were oxygen and nitrogen bottles on the left side of the forklift; and a maintenance stand on the other. I started to back up and saw the CRJ900 winglet behind me. I turned the forklift to clear the roll cage of the forklift; so I would not hit the winglet. Once the roll cage was clear; I straightened out the wheel of the forklift and started to back up again. I then heard a crunch sound. I stopped immediately; I then realized that even though the body of the forklift had cleared; the mast of the forklift did not. I then got off the forklift and told my crew chief what had happened. Even though heavy maintenance left the upper hangar; parts should still maintain stocking tires at the upper hangar. The forklift should be parked outside; not in the middle of the hangar where the aircraft and clutter and all the mhv stands; and equipment are. Add a placard to remind a person about the ht of the forklift mast.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: WHILE OPERATING A FORKLIFT AND CLEARING THE ROLL CAGE OF THE WINGTIP OF A CRJ-900 AIRCRAFT; MECHANIC FAILS TO NOTICE THE HEIGHT OF THE FORKLIFT MAST AND STRIKES THE WINGLET.

Narrative: I WAS ASSIGNED TO DO A CHK ON ACFT X IN THE UPPER HANGAR. THE ACFT NEEDED 4 MAIN TIRES. THERE WERE NO TIRES IN THE UPPER HANGAR. I TOOK IT UPON MYSELF TO GET THE 4 MAIN TIRES. I WENT DOWN TO THE LOWER HANGAR TO GET A FORKLIFT TO MOVE THE 4 MAIN TIRES TO THE UPPER HANGAR. THE FORKLIFT WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HANGAR FLOOR. THERE WERE OXYGEN AND NITROGEN BOTTLES ON THE L SIDE OF THE FORKLIFT; AND A MAINT STAND ON THE OTHER. I STARTED TO BACK UP AND SAW THE CRJ900 WINGLET BEHIND ME. I TURNED THE FORKLIFT TO CLEAR THE ROLL CAGE OF THE FORKLIFT; SO I WOULD NOT HIT THE WINGLET. ONCE THE ROLL CAGE WAS CLEAR; I STRAIGHTENED OUT THE WHEEL OF THE FORKLIFT AND STARTED TO BACK UP AGAIN. I THEN HEARD A CRUNCH SOUND. I STOPPED IMMEDIATELY; I THEN REALIZED THAT EVEN THOUGH THE BODY OF THE FORKLIFT HAD CLEARED; THE MAST OF THE FORKLIFT DID NOT. I THEN GOT OFF THE FORKLIFT AND TOLD MY CREW CHIEF WHAT HAD HAPPENED. EVEN THOUGH HVY MAINT LEFT THE UPPER HANGAR; PARTS SHOULD STILL MAINTAIN STOCKING TIRES AT THE UPPER HANGAR. THE FORKLIFT SHOULD BE PARKED OUTSIDE; NOT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HANGAR WHERE THE ACFT AND CLUTTER AND ALL THE MHV STANDS; AND EQUIP ARE. ADD A PLACARD TO REMIND A PERSON ABOUT THE HT OF THE FORKLIFT MAST.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of May 2009 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.

While operating a forklift and clearing the roll cage of the wingtip of a crj-900 aircraft; mechanic fails to notice the height of the forklift mast and strikes the winglet.