2024-08 · NASA ASRS report 2152164
A319 Pilots report while at the gate the aircraft began to roll backwards resulting in the Captain applying break pressure to regain control of the aircraft.
The flight started out normal with no issues. The Captain had mentioned he was a little tired from his previous leg but stated he was safe to fly. After push back it took approx. an hour to takeoff due to in-trail spacing from weather. I flew the approach and landing at ZZZZ and landed with no incident. Controls were passed around 80 knots and the Captain took over for the taxi in. We taxied in via taxiway 1 to the gate. It was a somewhat short taxi so the Captain taxied slow to ensure we didn't rush into the gate. When we pulled into the gate I saw what I thought was the Captain setting the brake and then calling for the shutdown checklist. After he set the brake I began my shutdown flow followed by the shutdown checklist. At some point during after beginning my flow and running the checklist I felt the aircraft begin to move. I immediately looked up and notice we were rolling backwards. Simultaneously and before I was able to say anything the Captain applied immediate brake pressure and brought the aircraft to a stop. It appeared we only rolled backwards a few feet. The tug crew came out and pulled us forward the final few feet. No ramp workers were near the plane at the time. The Captain stated he thought he had set the brake but must have forgotten. He stated the only reason he would of forgotten was because of how tired he was now feeling. The Captain then made the decision to call in fatigued. Cause: The Captains fatigue led to a breakdown in normal flow and habit patterns leading to failure to set the parking brake. The First Officer's failure to double-check the setting of the parking brake and brake pressure to ensure the brake was set prior to going heads down to complete checklist and flows.
This was a 5-day trip which turned out to be a 6 day trip; because I called in fatigued on the last day and I forgot to set brakes on the aircraft.Day 0. Normal day. Drove to ZZZ with no issues for an evening flight; 1 leg day to ZZZZ1. I am an early riser and not fond of evening flights; but I left home early and rested in the crew room for a couple of hours before flying. I felt fit for duty.Day 1. Flew day 2 another evening trip from ZZZZ1-ZZZ1-ZZZ2. On this day; for some reason; I started feeling off. Towards the end of the day; my throat hurt when I swallowed (told me I probably had a Cold coming) and I had an upset stomach (don't know what that was all about). It was probably the food I ate. Day 2. In ZZZ2; I went to the store in the morning and bought 1;000 mg Vitamin C packets. I rested all day; took several Vitamin C packets. The stomachache went away. And toward the late afternoon; my throat did not hurt after swallowing. Overall; I felt fine.Day 3. The good news was I didn't have the scratchy throat because the all-day rest and Vitamin C did the job; but as it turned out; I didn't sleep well either. I believe resting all day; made me not sleep well the evening before. Made fit for duty with no issues but was tired at the end of the day.Day 4. Again; I had a typical layover; but I didn't sleep well that night. I ended up tossing and turning all night (not sure why). I felt fit for duty on both legs when I signed in. On 1st leg into ZZZ; we went through the weather with no issues and somewhere approximately halfway through the flight; I was reassigned to fly a ZZZZturn instead of a ZZZZ2 turn. We landed in ZZZ to the east with a 6 kt tailwind. The only issue I was disappointed about was we were supposed to keep the same aircraft all day and I was losing my FO (good guy). On the 2nd leg I felt fit for duty; started getting a little tired; but nothing out of the ordinary getting up very early and after a 3+47 flight to ZZZ. My ZZZZ flight was out of another gate & company did change our arrival gate. I quickly got off the flight; walked to the ZZZZ flight and started getting ready for that segment. The passengers were already on the aircraft when I got there. I believe they were on board for a while when I arrived (I did not ask the FA's during the brief) and they were anxious to go. So; I went through my flows; verified the FO's procedures and did checklists. After we pushed back; we started only one engine because ZZZ started West flow traffic due to the passage of the weather. After start; we went to spot #2; called ground and counted we were approximately #13 for takeoff… ended up approximately #16 after three jets took off before us. As it turned out; we were on the ground for approximately one hour due to in trail spacing from the weather. After airborne; I started feeling more tired and I even mentioned it to the FO several times. Every time my mind would wander off; I drank some water and/or chewed on some dried mango to help keep focused. The FO was PF who flew the flight and approach with no incident. I took controls approximately 80 knots and taxied slowly to get 3 min eng cool down. I stopped the aircraft and automatically did my shutdown flow. And the 1st thing I ALWAYS do is put my hand on the brake; set the brake; and verify the brake is set via the triple indicator (it is a part of my muscle memory). I remember there was brake pressure was on the triple indicator (more than likely my feet were still pressing on the brakes when I checked the indicator). After the checklist was completed; I started getting ready for my next flight. I looked up to verify the ground personal had chocked the aircraft and saw the aircraft moving backwards. I gently put on the brakes; stopped the aircraft; had the passengers reseated and had ground tow us to the gate. I don't know how far we rolled; but I am only guessing a little over two feet. After that; I decided I am calling in fatigued. I couldnot believe I did not set the brakes and said I did on the checklist response. I knew I was tired; but I also can't think of anything else how that could have happened. I made this report detailed because I am no expert on sleep patterns or sickness; but maybe someone reading this are. I have never done something like this in many decades of flying and I don't plan on doing that again. Fortunately; there was another company qualified captain flying to ZZZ on that flight who was able to work this flight back to ZZZ and the passengers did not have to spend the night in ZZZZ. That being said; there must have been no aircraft damage or personnel injuries.Cause: I believe the causal factors in this situation are not black and white. I believe I was more tired than my body led me to believe. My understanding of being in the cockpit and becoming tired is well beyond my recommendations.
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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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