A marshaller attempted to have a crj crew continue taxiing the aircraft further into the ramp area e...

Attributes
ACN	873451
Time
Date	201002
Local Time Of Day	0001-0600
Place
Locale Reference	ZZZ.Airport
State Reference	US
Environment
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	Regional Jet CL65 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Taxi
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Function	Pilot Flying Captain
Qualification	Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 220 Flight Crew Total 12000 Flight Crew Type 5000
Person 2
Function	First Officer Pilot Not Flying
Qualification	Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 180 Flight Crew Total 8800 Flight Crew Type 7000
Events
Anomaly	Deviation - Procedural Published Material / Policy Ground Event / Encounter Vehicle

Narrative:

While being marshaled into gate; noted an additional fuel cart on right side of aircraft; but due to obscured ramp markings from compacted patchy snow; unable to determine if it was out of place. There were 2 marshallers; one on nose and one on left wing. I asked first officer to let me know if cart looked close as we approached. Approximately 10 feet from gate; first officer said stop; and I stopped the aircraft immediately. The marshaller continued to attempt to marshal us forward; but we remained stationary. We indicated to the marshaller to check clearance on right side of aircraft so he walked that way and did not return. After more than a minute without further guidance; opened main cabin door and first officer checked our status. He returned with the news we had hit a fuel cart on the leading edge of the right wing. After we had stopped of our own accord; the marshaller still believed we should pull forward; even though the fuel cart had been hit. Clearly this is an issue of either his lack of training; lack of understanding of his job duties; or just not paying attention. If he felt uneasy about the location of the fuel cart he should have had it moved or had a third marshaller verify our clearance; but for some reason did not. Perhaps not parking random pieces of equipment in gate areas for the convenience of the ramp personnel should be made a priority.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A Marshaller attempted to have a CRJ crew continue taxiing the aircraft further into the ramp area even after the crew stopped short of the Jetway because the right wing struck a fueling cart.

Narrative: While being marshaled into gate; noted an additional fuel cart on right side of aircraft; but due to obscured ramp markings from compacted patchy snow; unable to determine if it was out of place. There were 2 Marshallers; one on nose and one on left wing. I asked First Officer to let me know if cart looked close as we approached. Approximately 10 feet from gate; First Officer said stop; and I stopped the aircraft immediately. The Marshaller continued to attempt to marshal us forward; but we remained stationary. We indicated to the Marshaller to check clearance on right side of aircraft so he walked that way and did not return. After more than a minute without further guidance; opened main cabin door and First Officer checked our status. He returned with the news we had hit a fuel cart on the leading edge of the right wing. After we had stopped of our own accord; the Marshaller still believed we should pull forward; even though the fuel cart had been hit. Clearly this is an issue of either his lack of training; lack of understanding of his job duties; or just not paying attention. If he felt uneasy about the location of the fuel cart he should have had it moved or had a third Marshaller verify our clearance; but for some reason did not. Perhaps not parking random pieces of equipment in gate areas for the convenience of the ramp personnel should be made a priority.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of April 2012 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.

A marshaller attempted to have a crj crew continue taxiing the aircraft further into the ramp area even after the crew stopped short of the jetway because the right wing struck a fueling cart.