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A321 broke the tow bar and damaged the nose gear when the captain inadvertently set the brakes while the aircraft was still being pushed back.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 827777 |
| Time | |
| Date | 200903 |
| Local Time Of Day | 1201-1800 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | ZZZZ.Airport |
| State Reference | FO |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | VMC |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Make Model Name | A321 |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 121 |
| Flight Phase | Taxi |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Function | Captain Pilot Flying |
| Qualification | Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP) |
| Experience | Flight Crew Last 90 Days 200 Flight Crew Total 20500 Flight Crew Type 2220 |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | Deviation - Procedural Published Material / Policy Ground Event / Encounter Vehicle |
Narrative:
During pushback; I thought the ground crew asked me to set brakes. I did not realize the aircraft was still moving. I set the parking brake; but the aircraft was still moving aft; and the tow bar broke; and caused damage to the nose gear. Below is the sequence of events as I remember them: the ground crew made more than normal communications with the cockpit. They asked for a signed copy of the release to be thrown out the window; but I had already given a copy to one of the ground crew before the pushback. Then; during the pushback; the ground crew gave me clearance to start #2 engine; and I had to explain that it is our procedure to start #1 engine first. Subsequently; they told me that was okay; and I thought they also said to set the parking brake. I did not perceive that the aircraft was still in aftward movement; and when I set the parking brake; the tow bar sheared; and also caused damage to the nose gear.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: A321 broke the tow bar and damaged the nose gear when the Captain inadvertently set the brakes while the aircraft was still being pushed back.
Narrative: During pushback; I thought the ground crew asked me to set brakes. I did not realize the aircraft was still moving. I set the parking brake; but the aircraft was still moving aft; and the tow bar broke; and caused damage to the nose gear. Below is the sequence of events as I remember them: The ground crew made more than normal communications with the cockpit. They asked for a signed copy of the release to be thrown out the window; but I had already given a copy to one of the ground crew before the pushback. Then; during the pushback; the ground crew gave me clearance to start #2 engine; and I had to explain that it is our procedure to start #1 engine first. Subsequently; they told me that was okay; and I thought they also said to set the parking brake. I did not perceive that the aircraft was still in aftward movement; and when I set the parking brake; the tow bar sheared; and also caused damage to the nose gear.
Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of April 2012 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.