B777-200 runs over tow bar during pushback anomaly.

Attributes
ACN	680165
Time
Date	200512
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : iad.airport
State Reference	DC
Altitude	agl single value : 0
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B777-200
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	ground : pushback
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : relief pilot oversight : pic
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 230 flight time total : 7200 flight time type : 2800
ASRS Report	680165
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain
Events
Anomaly	ground encounters other other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other other : 3
Resolutory Action	none taken : unable
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Company Flight Crew Human Performance Aircraft
Primary Problem	Company

Narrative:

Following pushback; pushback crew gave clearance to start; per SOP. He then indicated they couldn't get tow bar disconnected; wanted to pull us forward a little; and try again. Captain was very clear and told push crew that engines are now started and there would be force on the tug. Push crew acknowledged and asked for brakes released. Pulled us forward and had us set brakes again. This time; as we rolled forward; the nose started to veer left and captain told push crew to correct. There was no response. After a few seconds; captain applied brakes and stopped airplane. After a delay; push crew said right nosewheel had run over the tow bar and he had trouble with headset. From my perspective; captain had very good communication and in compliance with SOP. Push crew man spoke broken english; but communicated ok. We were upset at the no communication at the end of the incident; but perhaps that was due to malfunctioning headset.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B777-200 RUNS OVER TOW BAR DURING PUSHBACK ANOMALY.

Narrative: FOLLOWING PUSHBACK; PUSHBACK CREW GAVE CLRNC TO START; PER SOP. HE THEN INDICATED THEY COULDN'T GET TOW BAR DISCONNECTED; WANTED TO PULL US FORWARD A LITTLE; AND TRY AGAIN. CAPT WAS VERY CLR AND TOLD PUSH CREW THAT ENGS ARE NOW STARTED AND THERE WOULD BE FORCE ON THE TUG. PUSH CREW ACKNOWLEDGED AND ASKED FOR BRAKES RELEASED. PULLED US FORWARD AND HAD US SET BRAKES AGAIN. THIS TIME; AS WE ROLLED FORWARD; THE NOSE STARTED TO VEER L AND CAPT TOLD PUSH CREW TO CORRECT. THERE WAS NO RESPONSE. AFTER A FEW SECONDS; CAPT APPLIED BRAKES AND STOPPED AIRPLANE. AFTER A DELAY; PUSH CREW SAID R NOSEWHEEL HAD RUN OVER THE TOW BAR AND HE HAD TROUBLE WITH HEADSET. FROM MY PERSPECTIVE; CAPT HAD VERY GOOD COM AND IN COMPLIANCE WITH SOP. PUSH CREW MAN SPOKE BROKEN ENGLISH; BUT COMMUNICATED OK. WE WERE UPSET AT THE NO COM AT THE END OF THE INCIDENT; BUT PERHAPS THAT WAS DUE TO MALFUNCTIONING HEADSET.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 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.