Regional Jet 900 (CRJ900)
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Situational Awareness
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Ground Event / Encounter Object
Aircraft Aircraft Damaged
Human Factors; Procedure
While being marshaled into [the] gate; the right outboard side of the winglet struck a baggage cart. Due to it being night time; heavy rain on the windows; and lots of standing water on the ramp; it made seeing the painted lines of the sterile area difficult to identify. From my vantage point in the right seat; the baggage cart appeared to be clear of the wing. It wasn't until after the wing passed the cart; [and] I saw the cart shaking side to side; I realized the wing had come in contact with the cart. It's ground handling's policy to only have one wing walker (on the left wing) while being marshaled into that gate. I and/or the Captain should have insisted on having a second wing walker to cover the right wing.
Upon arriving at the gate it was raining. We waited for a few minutes before we got ground personnel to come out and marshal us into the gate. A total of two guys came out; one wing walker and [a] marshal. The wing walker was on my side of the wing. They proceeded to bring us in and from my point of vision; I cleared the safety area but then asked my First officer if Phoenix airport is approved to only use one wing walker. Which he replied yes. I then asked him to clear his side of the aircraft whiles I slowly taxied in. For every few feet I advanced in I made him confirm if I was cleared of any obstacles. As I came in on the turn I felt this grinding feel on the aircraft so I stopped. Both the marshaller and the wing walker still had their wands up for me to advance forward but I stopped and waited for further assessments of the issue. This was when my First officer informed me I had scrapped the wingtip. The marshaller then went to look at the right wing and came back to marshal us to park. I then did my shut down checklists and went out to assess the damage. All ramp operations should require two wing walkers and a marshaller.
CRJ-900 flight crew reported the wingtip contacted a baggage cart while taxiing into the gate under control of the Marshaller at PHX.