2024-12 · NASA ASRS report 2201126
A321-NEO flight crew reported during push back from gate; the tow bar shear pin broke and the crew had to apply brakes to stop the aircraft.
At approximately XA:12 local time ZZZ Gate XX; we were cleared to push tail north. During push back we were cleared to start. We initiated start on number 1 engine. I recall there was fog and mist present and I saw multiple vehicles (ramp vehicles) moving in the area. There was a sudden an loud banging noise where I thought we had hit something. The push crew reacted by shouting for brakes to be set. We complied. They stated that the tow bar had broken off from the aircraft. We allowed the number 1 engine to continue starting. I informed the Ramp that we had a tow bar break during push and we were remaining in place until maintenance responded. The acknowledged and started routing people or holding push back due to our location. Multiple maintenance vehicles arrived and finally a tow truck type vehicle pulled the tow bar away. We coordinated for a taxi on one engine back into gate XX. All appropriate checklists were completed for single engine taxi as well as shutting down the aircraft. Maintenance discussed the required maintenance actions needed to fix the aircraft. the evolution from push back to shut down was XA:11-XA:39 local. All actions by the flight crew were by the book and standard. I did not discuss any incident details with the ground crew. Damage to the aircraft was caused by the towbar pulling and bending retaining studs on the nose gear. The part was replaced and we were cleared to push back by XC:46 local time.Not sure the events from the ground crew's perspective but I would surmise that the aircraft was being pushed backwards and the momentum of the aircraft was too much when brakes were applied in the tug. I didn't feel the pull or push of the tug was unsafe or too fast during the event. I am not qualified to make recommendations on the tow crew; but I would imagine a review of the applicable procedures with regards to application of brakes during tow may be warranted.
As we were pushing back from the gate; the ground crew was slowing the aircraft to a stop and the towbar sheared the bolts connecting it to the aircraft. The pushback was normal and smooth up to that point. The event caused a loud bang and shuddering under the flight deck. The pushback crew advised 'brakes set' and I slowly used the toe brakes to bring us to a stop instead of the parking brake initially. Once the brakes were set we called mechanics out to inspect the gear to ensure it was safe to taxi back to the gate. Once we had the OK from them and the area had been cleared by the ramp personnel we began to taxi back. We had started one engine during the pushback; and so we taxied back on that engine to the gate we departed from.My only thought on why this could've happened is that we had started engine #1 just prior to the towbar breaking; so with the increased thrust from the NEO engine; maybe that is what caused the torque to shear those bolts. I would recommend waiting to start NEO aircraft until the pushback is either complete or the aircraft is no longer in a turn.
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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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