<< >> NASA ASRS Report 597068, October 2003

A B737-300 became disconnected from the towbar during pushback. Alert technician operating the tug called out to set brakes. No damage incurred.

Attributes
ACN	597068
Time
Date	200310
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : zzz.airport
State Reference	US
Altitude	agl single value : 0
Environment
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B737-300
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	ground : pushback
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
ASRS Report	597068
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical other anomaly other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other other : person 3
Resolutory Action	flight crew : regained aircraft control flight crew : overcame equipment problem
Consequence	other Other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Maintenance Human Performance Environmental Factor Aircraft
Primary Problem	Ambiguous

Narrative:

During pushback from the gate, the towbar became disconnected from the aircraft. The mechanic pushing the aircraft yelled 'set the brakes' while aircraft was still moving followed by, 'I've lost the aircraft. The towbar has disconnected.' hearing these calls, I gently applied brakes and the aircraft came to rest without any damage or injury. Normal departure procedures were then followed and flight departed.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A B737-300 BECAME DISCONNECTED FROM THE TOWBAR DURING PUSHBACK. ALERT TECHNICIAN OPERATING THE TUG CALLED OUT TO SET BRAKES. NO DAMAGE INCURRED.

Narrative: DURING PUSHBACK FROM THE GATE, THE TOWBAR BECAME DISCONNECTED FROM THE ACFT. THE MECH PUSHING THE ACFT YELLED 'SET THE BRAKES' WHILE ACFT WAS STILL MOVING FOLLOWED BY, 'I'VE LOST THE ACFT. THE TOWBAR HAS DISCONNECTED.' HEARING THESE CALLS, I GENTLY APPLIED BRAKES AND THE ACFT CAME TO REST WITHOUT ANY DAMAGE OR INJURY. NORMAL DEP PROCS WERE THEN FOLLOWED AND FLT DEPARTED.

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.