2024-08 · NASA ASRS report 2159907
B767 flight crew reported a fumes event occurred due to a pack malfunction during gate pushback. Aircraft was towed back to the gate and passengers were deplaned safely.
20 ft. into pushback from gate; all 3 pilots in cockpit smelled an acrid; electrical type smell. As we verbalized to each other that we smelled something; the pushback crew stopped the push and told the Captain that he saw sparks coming from the belly of the aircraft. I called the Ramp Tower; using our call sign and our gate number; and asked him if he could see our aircraft. He replied that he could see the back half of the plane. I asked him if he saw smoke or flames coming from our aircraft. He replied that he did not. While I was doing that; our relief pilot had gone back to the First Class section to assess the situation. I believe that the Captain was talking on the cabin interphone with one of the FAs (Flight Attendant); but I don't know that for sure. The relief pilot replied that there was a strong acrid odor in the cabin also. I called Ramp; [requested priority handling]; and asked them to send Fire and Rescue. The Captain instructed me to read and execute the Evacuation Checklist. I did so down to the last item; where we agreed to pause for another assessment of the cabin by the relief pilot. He reported that the smell was clearing. We noted that the right pack was now off; and I physically turned the pack switch to off. The smell cleared rather quickly. Things slowed down after that. I had hoped to get towed back to the gate promptly to deplane the passengers; but we were surrounded by fire trucks by then and could not move. After the Fire Department and Maintenance determined that our pack had come apart and that there was no immediate danger; we were towed back to the gate. It took some patience and persuasion to have the emergency vehicles clear our parking area so that we would not collide with them while being towed back to the gate. After the passengers deplaned; the 3 pilots debriefed the occurrence; then the entire crew gathered in First Class and debriefed the occurrence.
During pushback flight deck crew noticed a burning smell. As we all noticed the Tug Driver stopped pushing the aircraft and reported seeing sparks from underneath the aircraft with no further description given. The parking brake was set and QRC initiated. [Priority handling was requested]; ARFF (Airport Rescue and Firefighting) requested; and evacuation considered. Contact made with flight attendants who also reported heavy fumes in cabin with crew in the mid and aft of the aircraft reporting a loud 'bang' preceding the fumes. At this point the fumes had begun to dissipate and a R PACK MODE and R PACK OFF EICAS message displayed along with a R ACM (Air Cycle Machine) status message. I was able to inspect the cabin and noted no fumes or smoke. I reported findings back to other pilots and the decision was made to be back to the gate as we were still connected to the tug. One difficulty we did have was the position of the firefighting equipment when we were able to be towed back. There were vehicles inside the safety area of the gate in front of the wing and it seemed to take longer than it should have to get them to reposition to safe place for us to move the aircraft. The message was relayed to the ground crew but ARFF seemed reluctant to reposition. Once at the gate the termination and deplaning process proceeded without further incident.
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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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