Event Summary
On 17 December 2010 at 10:17 UTC, an Airbus A330-200 registered OD-MEA, operated by Middle East Airlines, was involved in a ground accident during pushback from stand H12 at Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport. The aircraft sustained heavy damage to the lower fuselage.
Sequence of Events
The flight crew prepared to depart from stand H12. A tractor and tow bar were attached for pushback. During the maneuver, the tractor driver attempted to align the aircraft with the centerline of the taxiway. The aircraft overshot the centerline and stopped in a misaligned position with the nose gear not aligned.
The crew started engine number 1, which stabilized at ground idle. After about one minute, the tractor driver attempted to pull the aircraft forward to align the nose wheels with the centerline. Almost simultaneously, the crew started engine number 2. As the tractor pulled forward, it lost traction on icy ground. The aircraft continued forward, pushing the tractor. The tractor skidded to the left, the tow bar attachments broke, and the tractor struck the side of the fuselage.
Contributing Factors
The investigation identified several factors that contributed to the accident:
- Insufficient measures for prevention and/or treatment of ice on the ground.
- The particular configuration of stand H12, which left little room for pushback.
- Communication difficulties between ground personnel and the flight crew.
Investigation Findings
At the time of the accident, the ground was icy in places. The tractor driver reported that the aircraft was misaligned after pushback due to slippery conditions and attempted to correct by pulling forward. Investigators found ice still present in the area where the tractor skidded. The METAR at 10:00 UTC indicated temperature -1°C with dew point -3°C. The CVR recording revealed a misunderstanding between ground staff and the crew: after an unusual thud, ground personnel appeared to request the parking brake but announced "Parking brake OFF please please please," and the crew confirmed the parking brake was off. A second thud followed two seconds later. It could not be determined whether this exchange occurred before or after the collision. The aircraft eventually stopped without crew brake application, and the crew shut down both engines and set the parking brake about one and a half minutes later. The report also noted a similar accident on 10 April 2011 at the same airport involving a Boeing 777-333ER operated by Air Canada.