An LR31 strikes its dorsal fin on a gpu parked too closely to the tail when departure lal, fl.

Attributes
ACN	467502
Time
Date	200003
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : lal.airport
State Reference	FL
Altitude	agl single value : 0
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : corporate
Make Model Name	Learjet 31
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	ground : taxi
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : corporate
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 30 flight time total : 6300 flight time type : 85
ASRS Report	467502
Person 2
Affiliation	company : corporate
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : multi engine pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 120 flight time total : 8200 flight time type : 2100
ASRS Report	467361
Events
Anomaly	conflict : ground critical ground encounters other non adherence : required legal separation non adherence : company policies
Independent Detector	other flight crewa other flight crewb
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	other other other other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Maintenance Human Performance Airport Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Maintenance Human Performance

Narrative:

The captain (PIC) and I (sic) were departing the ramp area. After the captain started the engines, he gave the ramp person the disconnect gpu sign. The ramp person ran around the aircraft, disconnected the gpu (ground power unit) than reappeared in front of the aircraft. The ramp person started to marshall the captain forward for 2 ft then she had the captain make a left turn. Once the captain turned the aircraft to the left the tail of the plane struck the gpu unit. The captain shut down both engines and examined the damage. A dent on the rear dorsal fin was damaged from the gpu. To prevent this, there should be 2 ramp personnel at a minimum to marshall the aircraft out of the tarmac. Supplemental information from acn 467361: we had service provide us with a power cart. They placed it just behind the wing on the right side of the plane. About the same time they towed and parked a beechcraft baron directly in front of us (we parked on an angle). The position of the baron required us to make an immediate left turn out of parking. I am always very aware of the parking and placement of the power cart on our plane. I will be sure it is parked behind the tail from now on.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN LR31 STRIKES ITS DORSAL FIN ON A GPU PARKED TOO CLOSELY TO THE TAIL WHEN DEP LAL, FL.

Narrative: THE CAPT (PIC) AND I (SIC) WERE DEPARTING THE RAMP AREA. AFTER THE CAPT STARTED THE ENGS, HE GAVE THE RAMP PERSON THE DISCONNECT GPU SIGN. THE RAMP PERSON RAN AROUND THE ACFT, DISCONNECTED THE GPU (GND PWR UNIT) THAN REAPPEARED IN FRONT OF THE ACFT. THE RAMP PERSON STARTED TO MARSHALL THE CAPT FORWARD FOR 2 FT THEN SHE HAD THE CAPT MAKE A L TURN. ONCE THE CAPT TURNED THE ACFT TO THE L THE TAIL OF THE PLANE STRUCK THE GPU UNIT. THE CAPT SHUT DOWN BOTH ENGS AND EXAMINED THE DAMAGE. A DENT ON THE REAR DORSAL FIN WAS DAMAGED FROM THE GPU. TO PREVENT THIS, THERE SHOULD BE 2 RAMP PERSONNEL AT A MINIMUM TO MARSHALL THE ACFT OUT OF THE TARMAC. SUPPLEMENTAL INFO FROM ACN 467361: WE HAD SVC PROVIDE US WITH A PWR CART. THEY PLACED IT JUST BEHIND THE WING ON THE R SIDE OF THE PLANE. ABOUT THE SAME TIME THEY TOWED AND PARKED A BEECHCRAFT BARON DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF US (WE PARKED ON AN ANGLE). THE POS OF THE BARON REQUIRED US TO MAKE AN IMMEDIATE L TURN OUT OF PARKING. I AM ALWAYS VERY AWARE OF THE PARKING AND PLACEMENT OF THE PWR CART ON OUR PLANE. I WILL BE SURE IT IS PARKED BEHIND THE TAIL FROM NOW ON.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 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.