A319 air carrier flight crew reported a unintentional movement of the aircraft during pushback resulting from the tow bar disconnected from the tug and the parking brake not set. The ground crew and flight crew recognized the unintentional movement and the Captain immediately set the parking brake.
Synopsis
A319 air carrier flight crew reported a unintentional movement of the aircraft during pushback resulting from the tow bar disconnected from the tug and the parking brake not set. The ground crew and flight crew recognized the unintentional movement and the Captain immediately set the parking brake.
Narrative
Flight was preparing to push off of gate at XA:05 to meet an EDCT (Estimated Departure Clearance Time) that aligned with original departure time. Just after door closure; crewmembers received word of extended delay. Crew requested to take delay on the gate -- Request denied. Crew then requested to take the delay on the hard stand between the terminal and RWY XXC and to be pushed by ground crew. After a series of confusing push clearances and difficulty communicating with the push crew; the aircraft was pushed to the hard stand position XX. Ground crew reported that the push was complete. Captain cleared ground crew to disconnect; simultaneously noticing that the aircraft nose was still over the border line of the hard stand area. Captain asked the ground grew to continue the push to get the nose into the hard stand area; releasing the brake and clearing to continue the push. Ground crew responded 'Brake;' Captain assumed the ground crew was referring to releasing the brake. FO (First Officer) yelled brake and CA (Captain) set the brake; only then realizing that the ground crew had disconnected the TUG and was telling the capt to set the brake. Aircraft stopped; having rolled 4 feet into the hard stand area.CA had expectation bias; assuming the aircraft was still connected to the TUG. Additionally; there were two frequencies; and the ground crew all being monitored. CA should have slowed down and concentrated on the task at hand; which was moving the aircraft.Captain should have ensured instructions and coordination with ground crew as correct and understood by flight crew and ground crew. Perhaps; just following standard procedures - Starting the aircraft engines at the completion of the push and taxiing to the waiting area would have resulted in a better outcome.
Second reporter narrative
I was the First Officer for flight from ZZZ to ZZZ1. As we getting ready to push back from gate and after closing the door we were informed with extended delay. We requested to stay at the gate but were informed that they need the gate and to push back. After that we were finally cleared for push back and During push back we requested ground crew to park us in the west parking (( box )) area to wait for our wheels up time and it was approved by ramp. We were instructed to park at XX line; so the Captain told the ground crew to push to XX. when we got to the (( box west parking area )) the tug driver told the Captain to set the parking brake so the Captain did set the parking brake. the Captain and I noticed that the nose of the aircraft was outside the line of the west parking area so he called the ground crew to push us more into the box so the Captain said parking brake is off push us more but the tug was already disconnected and the airplane start rolling back and the tug driver said (( brake )). I immediately told the Captain brake brake set the parking brake. And the Captain set the parking brake. We finished our checklists and continued the flight with no further incident.We weren't rushing anything it was just miss communication.Suggestions: Just more communication with the ground crew like double check when to set/release the parking brake.
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Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.