Air Carrier ground personnel reported the aircraft that they were pushing back rolled forward 8 feet after towbar was removed. No injuries occurred but crew notified supervisor of near miss.
Synopsis
Air Carrier ground personnel reported the aircraft that they were pushing back rolled forward 8 feet after towbar was removed. No injuries occurred but crew notified supervisor of near miss.
Narrative
During the towbar/pushback disconnect process the pilot indicated the brakes were set and pressure normal. We then disconnected the towbar and bypass pin. The pilot then told us that we could disconnect headset. My wingwalker (marshaller) then spoke up on the wireless headset that the airplane was rolling towards us. At this point the towbar was connected to the tractor; the headset disconnected; and we were nearly ready to reverse back away from the airplane. When I looked back towards the airplane the airplane was rolling forward at a slow walking pace and at this point had advanced about 8 feet closer to my tractor. I estimate the airplane rolled forward this distance because I initially backed away far enough for my other wingwalker to disconnect the headset without the towbar in the way. At the moment I noticed the rolling aicraft the airplane was less than a foot from making contact with my towbar and tractor. As i reversed the pilot then stopped the airplane. I then backed away far enough to look into the flight deck and re-affirmed the brakes set handsignal. The pilot responded with the brakes set hand signal and gave a slight shrug of confusion. Once the tractor was parked and we went inside a supervisor was notified of the near miss.
Second reporter narrative
The pushback driver tells me he was given the verbal response that brakes are set. he gave me the set brakes hand signal. After I detached the towbar from the pushback and then detatched the towbar from the aircraft; I removed the bypass pin. we heard the other Wingwalker call out that the aircraft was rolling forward. I have always been cautious to not stand in front of the tires when I detach towbar and remove bypass pin; so luckily I was not in the path of the rolling aircraft.
Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.