Factual Information
On 22 May 2020, an Airbus A321 with manufacturer serial number 1887 and registration VP-CCG was being pushed back from a hangar of a maintenance repair organization (MRO) at Larnaca Airport. The aircraft had undergone maintenance that included replacement of the right main landing gear retraction actuator and subsequent landing gear retraction checks. To allow clearance from other aircraft and equipment inside the hangar, the pushback required moving the aircraft a few meters backward.
An airport handling company was contacted for the pushback operation. The tow truck driver arrived at the MRO’s hangar and connected the towing tractor to the aircraft’s nose landing gear. An MRO supervisor coordinated the operation, positioning an engineer in the cockpit and three engineers at the extremities: one below each wing tip and one below the tail. The supervisor stood between the tow tractor and engine number one.
The left hangar door was fully open, while the right hangar door was partially open due to multifunction. Those involved judged that sufficient space existed for the tail to pass through the doors.
Damage to Aircraft
The right-hand elevator tip struck the right hangar door and was completely deformed. The MRO contacted Airbus customer services, providing damage details and photographs for evaluation. Airbus issued a series of inspections and checks for the tail structure, along with functional and leak checks during tail plane and elevator operation. All recommendations were completed, and no secondary damage was found. A new right-hand elevator tip was subsequently installed.
Other Damage
No damage was evident to other parts of the aircraft or to the hangar door.
Personnel Information
The supervisor controlling the tow operation was a licensed aircraft engineer type-rated on the Airbus A321.
- Under the right wing: a licensed aircraft engineer type-rated on the Airbus A321.
- Under the left wing: a mechanic without a type rating on the Airbus A321.
- Under the tail: a licensed engineer without a type rating on the A321.
- In the cockpit: a licensed engineer with a type rating on the Airbus A321.
- The tow truck driver was trained and approved for aircraft towing, with valid training approval at the time of the accident.
Aircraft Information
- Aircraft type: A321
- Manufacturer serial number: 01887
- Registration: VP-CCG
Analysis
Due to limited space in the hangar, the tow bar was connected with the nose wheels turned slightly to the right. The right hangar door was almost half open, but those involved estimated adequate space for the tail. As the nose wheel was turned slightly right and the A321 fuselage is longer than that of the A320, the tail moved rightward more rapidly and covered a greater distance than usual.
The mechanic positioned below the tail was looking at the left-hand side of the tail for clearance and did not observe the right-hand elevator approaching the right hangar door. Consequently, no warning was given to the pushback coordinator to stop the procedure.