Date: 201508
Local time of day: 0601-1200
Location: ZZZ.Airport, US
Flight conditions: VMC
Light: Daylight
Aircraft: A319
Operator: Air Carrier
Operating under: Part 121
Flight plan: IFR
Mission: Passenger
Flight phase: Taxi
Aircraft component: Engine
Component problem: Improperly Operated
Reporter organization: Air Carrier
Reporter function: Pilot Flying; Captain
Reporter qualification: Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Human factors: Situational Awareness; Communication Breakdown; Confusion
Second reporter function: Pilot Not Flying; First Officer
Anomaly: Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Other / Unknown; Ground Event / Encounter Object
Detector: Person Ground Personnel
When detected: Taxi
Result: Aircraft Aircraft Damaged; Flight Crew Took Evasive Action
Contributing factors: Human Factors; Staffing
Primary problem: Staffing

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.


Second narrative: As we approached [the] gate; the Captain remarked that there were no marshallers. I turned my attention to looking up the operations frequency and tuning it into the radio. As I was doing this the aircraft approached the turn point into the gate and the Captain stated that the marshallers were here and began the left turn to parking. As we turned I noticed the lead marshaller begin signaling the Captain forward and a wing walker running toward the right wing. There was no wing walker for the left wing. I did not notice any equipment within the operational safety zone on the right side of the aircraft. I did notice a piece of equipment located beside the jet bridge on the left side but didn't see if or how much it extended into the safety zone. As we approached the stop point the lead marshaller was no longer in my view. The Captain then remarked about some other person which caused me to lean forward to see someone pointing and yelling something as he stood beside the lead marshaller.Although the person never signaled the Captain to stop; the Captain stopped the aircraft even as the marshaller continued to signal forward movement. After the door was opened we learned that the left front portion of the #1 engine's cowling struck a portable A/C unit. The aircraft was stopped approximately 2 feet short of the normal stop point.


Synopsis: 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.