EMB ERJ 145 ER/LR
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Ground Event / Encounter Vehicle
Aircraft Aircraft Damaged; General Maintenance Action
Human Factors; Company Policy; Procedure
I am submitting this report just to highlight a near disaster that occurred to us yesterday; so that everyone can learn and maybe be safer. Yesterday afternoon after parking at the gate the jetway was being up to the aircraft the agent was aligning the metal cattle bridge when a fuel truck hit our right wing tip. We felt a shudder for 5-8 seconds during this time and knew we were having damage done but didn't know where yet. A passenger yelled that the fuel truck had just hit the right wing and I sent the First Officer out to check for leaks and damage. It was obvious that no fire had occurred. The damage was light to our wing tip; just a broken NAV light lense but it left about a 20 foot scrape on the fuel truck. We deplaned and I went out to look at the scene. I sent Maintenance Control pictures and logbook information. Looking back at the incident; I decided to submit my concern. If the truck had been about 3-4 inches further to the left; the wing spar and leading edge might have punctured the fuel trucks tank and certainly would have yawed the nose hard into the jetway just when the cattle ramp was being pushed into the main cabin door floor area. This likely would have broken both legs of my flight attendant and blocked the main door from being used as an emergency exit (severely injured flight attendant and the handrails of the bridge). It also would have blocked the flight deck door closed. If a fire or explosion happened we would be limited to only the left wing exit for egress (1L/main door blocked; all right exits too hot with fire and the rain shield covering the Captain's cockpit window). It would seem safer to allow us to use the jetway like we used to by pulling them without the metal bridge all the way up to the plane. No need for the ropes and much faster in case of an egress need. This event spooked me and I was unable to sleep later that night resulting in a fatigue call. We had narrowly avoided a disaster by 3-4 inches and would have suffered likely heavy loss of life. I am hoping others can think about this and maybe a change can happen with the skinny cattle bridges.I would change the policy of using the metal cattle bridges when they are not needed. Sometimes we must use them but a lot of our cities have modified jetways that can lower down to our door level. Seems stupid to stuff a metal bridge in a door when all that is needed is a lower jetway and parking it normally. This reduces the risk of falling and opens up the area.
EMB-145 Captain reports right wingtip damage after parking at the gate when a fuel truck attempts to maneuver for refueling. The Captain believes that the metal bridges used to connect the jetway to the lower cabin height of the regional jets could have obstructed the door and caused injury had the collision been more severe.