An A-319 crew inadvertently struck an air conditioning cart with their number one engine while taxii...

Attributes
ACN	1290442
Time
Date	201508
Local Time Of Day	0601-1200
Place
Locale Reference	ZZZ.Airport
State Reference	US
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	A319
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Taxi
Flight Plan	IFR
Component
Aircraft Component	Engine
Person 1
Function	Pilot Flying Captain
Qualification	Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Person 2
Function	Pilot Not Flying First Officer
Qualification	Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 182 Flight Crew Total 11894 Flight Crew Type 8519
Events
Anomaly	Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe Deviation - Procedural Published Material / Policy Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Other / Unknown Ground Event / Encounter Object

Narrative:

While approaching the gate the number 1 engine came in contact with a cart that was parked in the 'operational safety zone.' as I approached the stop point following the guideman's instructions I notice another person standing beside him gesturing wildly and pointing to the left wing. Based on this I stopped the aircraft. Approximately 5 seconds later the guideman directed that I stop the aircraft. By this time the parking brake was set.we ran the parking checklist and then I went outside to see what the issue was; at this point I noted that the #1 engine had hit the air conditioning cart. I also noted that the nose wheel was short of the stop line. If I had followed the guideman's instructions I would have pushed the cart about 18 inches to reach the stop line.the reason that I stopped the aircraft was because of the concerned expression and gestures of a [company] employee that was observing the parking operation not because I was directed to by the lead marshaller. I believe that the lead marshaller was focused on the nose wheel and not looking at the other guide men or the entirety of the aircraft.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: An A-319 crew inadvertently struck an air conditioning cart with their number one engine while taxiing in to their gate. Both piloted report that there was no left side wing walker present. The Captain stated that the lead marshaller continued to direct him forward; but that he stopped when he noticed the concerned expression and gestures of another company employee who was observing the parking operation.

Narrative: While approaching the gate the number 1 engine came in contact with a cart that was parked in the 'operational safety zone.' As I approached the stop point following the guideman's instructions I notice another person standing beside him gesturing wildly and pointing to the left wing. Based on this I stopped the aircraft. Approximately 5 seconds later the guideman directed that I stop the aircraft. By this time the parking brake was set.We ran the parking checklist and then I went outside to see what the issue was; at this point I noted that the #1 engine had hit the air conditioning cart. I also noted that the nose wheel was short of the stop line. If I had followed the guideman's instructions I would have pushed the cart about 18 inches to reach the stop line.The reason that I stopped the aircraft was because of the concerned expression and gestures of a [company] employee that was observing the parking operation not because I was directed to by the lead marshaller. I believe that the lead marshaller was focused on the nose wheel and not looking at the other guide men or the entirety of the aircraft.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site 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.