What happened
On 16 February 2005, a Boeing 767-304, registration G-OBYJ, was involved in a ground incident at Luton Airport during a non-revenue positioning flight. Following a push-back manoeuvre, the aircraft's engines were running at idle power. Upon receiving instructions from Air Traffic Control, the ground handling crew attempted to tow the aircraft forward along the taxiway centreline.
During this forward movement, the towbar shear pins failed. Following training received for push-back operations, the tug driver applied the brakes to stop the tug. However, the aircraft continued to move forward due to its own inertia and the thrust from its idling engines. This caused the towbar to jack-knife, resulting in the aircraft striking the roof of the stationary tug. The collision caused a puncture to the underside of the fuselage behind the nose landing gear, bent two fuselage frames, and damaged a tyre on the left nose landing gear. There were no injuries to the two crew members on board.
The investigation
The AAIB investigation examined the condition of the towbar and the training of the ground personnel. It was discovered that the ownership of the towbar was unclear between the airline and the handling agent, which meant neither party had performed recent maintenance. The investigation found that one pair of the towbar's shear pins was heavily corroded, indicating a lack of substantial maintenance for a significant period. Additionally, the towbar lacked an asset number for tracking.
Regarding personnel, the investigation established that while the ground crew had been trained for push-back manoeuvres, they had received no specific training for towing or pulling aircraft with engines running. The driver's instruction to brake upon shear pin failure was appropriate for push-back but dangerous during a forward tow, as it facilitated the collision.
Findings
- The accident was caused by ground handling staff performing a task for which they had not been trained.
- The crew was attempting a forward tow with engines running, a task for which their training module was insufficient.
- The towbar was in an unserviceable condition due to a lack of maintenance and unclear ownership responsibilities.
- The driver's application of the tug brakes during the shear pin failure directly contributed to the aircraft striking the tug.