What happened
On September 1, 2021, at approximately 14:00 UTC, an Airbus A320-232, registration LV-IVN, operated by Jetsmart Airlines S.A., was undergoing a pushback maneuver at Aeroparque Jorge Newbery in Buenos Aires. The aircraft was positioned at stand 17 and was preparing for flight WJ3182 to Bariloche. During the pushback operation, conducted by ground service provider Intercargo, the tow fitting bolts on the nose landing gear fractured. Simultaneously, the shear bolts on the towbar also broke. The incident caused the aircraft to be taken out of service and returned to its parking position.
The investigation
The investigation by the JST focused on the technical and operational aspects of the ground maneuver. Investigators examined the alignment of the aircraft, the towbar, and the tug during the pushback. The inquiry also reviewed the training and oversight responsibilities of the ground personnel involved. A significant challenge for the investigation was that the occurrence was not reported until eight days after the event, which prevented the preservation and metallurgical analysis of the fractured tow fitting bolts and shear bolts.
Findings
- The pushback maneuver involved several deviations from proper procedure, specifically regarding the longitudinal alignment of the tug, towbar, and aircraft.
- The steering angle of the nose landing gear reached near its maximum limit during the maneuver.
- The lack of proper alignment and excessive steering angles led to the fracture of the nose gear tow fitting bolts and towbar shear bolts.
- The ground service operator and the load supervisor failed to detect these operational deviations during the maneuver.
- The load supervisor lacked specific training regarding ground handling operations and the use of ground support equipment.
- There was a lack of clarity in the regulatory framework regarding the specific training, certification, and oversight responsibilities of the load supervisor role.
Safety action
- The JST issued a recommendation to the National Civil Aviation Administration (ANAC) to establish specific training and certification requirements for load supervisors to ensure they are qualified for ground operations.
- A recommendation was issued to Intercargo to update their Ramp Operations Manual to include specific corrective actions to be taken when deviations, such as misalignment, occur during pushback maneuvers.