NTSB Factual Report

On April 20, 2009, at 1738 mountain standard time, a Dehavilland DHC-8-202, N449YV, struck a ground power unit (GPU) with the right propeller while taxiing to parking at the Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX), Phoenix, Arizona. Mesa Airlines operated the flight as Air Shuttle flight 2957 under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 121 as a scheduled passenger service flight. The captain, first officer, flight attendant, and 14 passengers were not injured; there were no ground injuries. The airplane sustained structural damage to the right wing and fuselage. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the international flight that departed the General Jose Maria Yanez International Airport (GYM), Guaymas, Mexico, at 1540. An instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan had been filed.

In the operator's written report to the National Transportation Safety Board, the flight crew stated that upon arrival at the ramp area, they had to wait just outside the gate area for marshalers to arrive so the airplane could be guided up to the gate. The flight crew noted that upon arrival, the marshaler's wands were in crossed position, indicating "Stop," as the marshaler waited for additional wing walkers. Once all of the wing walkers were in place, they commenced to guide the airplane up to the gate. As they were guided into the gate area, the captain lost sight of the power cart, which was not an abnormal occurrence. He asked the first officer (FO) how the power cart looked, and the FO said it was okay. The captain reported that as the marshaler raised his arms to cross them, the number 2 propeller struck the power cart.

According to PHX airport operations personnel, the airplane was being ground marshaled to gate B24, with the aid of a marshaler and wing walkers. As the airplane reached its final stopping point, the right propeller struck the GPU.

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspectors reported that the GPU was about 7 feet aft of the required parking spot for the GPU. After the propeller blades struck the GPU, the GPU was pulled back toward the fuselage, damaging the engine, propeller, and fuselage.

The cockpit voice recorder (CVR) for the accident airplane was shipped to the NTSB vehicle recorder laboratory, Washington, D.C., for read out.

The CVR was a Fairchild Model A-100A, serial number 62478. The CVR was received at the vehicle recorder division's audio laboratory in good condition, and the data was extracted normally. This model records 30 minutes of analog audio on a continuous loop taken in a four-channel format. A CVR group was not convened; however, a summary of events from the CVR was prepared. Upon taxi to the ramp the FO remarked several times about clearing the airplane. Prior to the accident, the captain asked the FO to watch the cart, and the FO responded that they are clear. A few seconds later the captain asked if they still had clearance from the cart. He starts to ask again about the cart and the CVR picks up the sound of the impact followed by sounds similar to engine shut down.

NTSB Probable Cause

The failure of ramp personnel and the flight crew to maintain clearance from ground equipment while taxiing. Contributing to the accident was the improper positioning of the ground equipment.