A320
Distraction; Communication Breakdown; Situational Awareness
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Ground Event / Encounter Object
Aircraft Aircraft Damaged; General Maintenance Action
Equipment / Tooling; Procedure; Human Factors
201309 at approximately XA:00am; my partner and I were tasked to move an A320 aircraft from a Terminal Gate to Spot XX.  I was upstairs riding brakes; my partner was driving the [Tow] tractor. Upon parking at   Spot-17; he moved an Entry Stand up to Door-1 Left (1L).  I opened the door; departed the airplane; leaving the door open.  My partner then lowered the [tow] cradle holding the nosegear; at which time I heard the horrible sound of something breaking.  I rushed to the cab of the tractor; stopped my partner from further lowering the cradle.  He then lifted it back up to the raised position.  I ascended the Entry Stand; saw the damage; and showed it to my partner.  We then found our Lead Mechanic and informed him of the situation. [Suggest to] always lower the nosegear cradle before positioning any equipment up to an airplane.
An Aircraft Maintenance Technician (AMT) describes how Door-1 Left (1L) on an A320 aircraft was damaged by an Entry Stand as another Technician lowered a towbar cradle holding the nosegear.