EMB 175 flight crew reported the aircraft rolled uncommanded during pushback when ground crew disconnected the tug from the aircraft without telling pilots to set brakes. Captain applied brakes to stop aircraft.
Synopsis
EMB 175 flight crew reported the aircraft rolled uncommanded during pushback when ground crew disconnected the tug from the aircraft without telling pilots to set brakes. Captain applied brakes to stop aircraft.
Narrative
I contacted the ramp crew and got the all secure below; FOD walk complete; steering disengaged; and ready for parking break release. I released the parking break and told the ramp crew; parking break released hold push. We got clearance to push; so I told them cleared to push. The rampers told me cleared to start engine 1 so we did. They finished the push and we started rolling forward. We thought that they had just pushed us too far back and were pulling us forward until we saw the tug and the guy with the tow strap disconnected from the plane as we were rolling forward. They had disconnected the tug and headset from the plane with out asking or receiving the parking brake set cleared to disconnect or any signal for it. Once we saw the crew in front of us as we were rolling we set the brake as fast as we could.The cause could have been the ramp crew getting in too big of a rush or having a lapse in judgment and attention. Suggestions: Make sure that everyone is on the same page and rampers don't disconnect the tug from the aircraft until the parking brake is set.
Second reporter narrative
Captain called ramp crew with standard call outs and two way communication was established. Ramp cleared our plane to push and the captain told ground they were cleared to push. During the pushback the ground crew verbally cleared us to start engine 1. While I was focused on that I felt us moving forward and the Captain hitting the toe brakes. When I looked up I could see the tug pulling away without ever having told us verbally or via hand signals to set the parking brake.The rampers could have been in a rush and didn't prioritize communication. Suggestions: Discussion with ramp crew on the importance of communication. Both verbally and via hand signals if the radios fail.
Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.