2024-06 · NASA ASRS report 2132635
Ramp personnel reported during push back the aircraft was parked crooked. When they proceeded to straighten out the aircraft the tow bar disconnected and the aircraft rolled onto the tow bar.
Everything went well; with the exception of the drop point of the aircraft. When getting to drop point I could not see the line; which caused me to stop towards the end of the push. The aircraft was crooked but I had arrived at the drop point. We tried to disconnect and for some reason the towbar refused to come off. I signal my Crew Chief to come help me. So he drove over to help us with issue. When he arrived; he observed the aircraft was crooked and that maybe the reason why. He ask me to adjust the aircraft and I told that I could not do it so at this point he took over the wheel. He sat down in the huff called the Captain to release the brake to adjust the aircraft so that the aircraft and towbar could become straight. He proceeded with the process and while adjusting the aircraft the towbar dropped on the ground and disconnected. At this point the aircraft started to role forward. He called the Captain to apply the brakes but there was a delay and by the time that he did apply brakes the plane started rolling forward and went over the towbar. I realized that something was wrong when I saw the plane rolling forward.Cause: I'm not sure of the reason why but I do think that the weather played an important role in the incident. Everything was going well with the push. everyone followed procedures. As soon as the incident occurred the Crew chief notified management to call the Ramp Manager and aircraft Maintenance.
I was the left-wing walker for flight XXX. It was raining and we started pushing from [Gate] XX. We pushed normally; however; when we got to the drop point the plane was crooked. It looked like the pushback driver cannot see the line. Even though the plane was crooked we tried to release the plane; but it looked like the right-wing walker was having a hard time disconnecting the towbar; so the pushback driver decided to help; and they were both unsuccessful. I did not know what exactly was going since I was holding up the 'X' with my wands for the Captain. I waited there for a while and at some point; I saw the Crew Chief show up to help. The Crew Chief tried to help by taking over the driver. He started to adjust the plane and as the plane and the towbar started to straighten out the towbar dropped and disconnected from the aircraft. Once disconnected; the aircraft started to move forward. As it was moving forward; I tried to get the Captain's attention to apply his brakes. I am not exactly sure if the Captain saw me but moments later the aircraft stopped; but it was too late and it had gone over the towbar. Crew Chief then called the Ramp Manager; and shortly Ground Personnel and aircraft Maintenance came to inspect the nose gear. The plane was towed back to the gate by another crew.Cause: I was holding up the wands in a 'X' from far away and cannot determine what went wrong. As I saw the plane straighten out; the towbar dropped; and the aircraft moved forward towards the towbar and went over it. Ramp; Ground and aircraft Maintenance was called.
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Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.
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