Air carrier flight crew reported while being pushed back off the gate possibly hitting a vehicle resulting in the flight crew returning to the gate. The flight crew refused the aircraft until a further inspection could be accomplished.
Synopsis
Air carrier flight crew reported while being pushed back off the gate possibly hitting a vehicle resulting in the flight crew returning to the gate. The flight crew refused the aircraft until a further inspection could be accomplished.
Narrative
On Day 0 I was scheduled to operate flight XXXX PHX-ZZZ. Around XA:45 local; we were ready to push. A few moments later the tug driver checked in and indicated that they were also ready for push. To the best of my recollection; he did say the standard required phraseology prior to brake release. I'm fairly certain of this because it prompted me to call for the entire Before Start Checklist; as well as 'below the line.' We received clearance for push; released the brake; and began our pushback. Shortly after beginning the push; there was a loud bang from the nose gear and the aircraft abruptly shuddered to a sudden stop. I checked with the ground crew to see if everyone was ok; and the tug driver thought so but wasn't sure. I then briefly spoke with the flight attendants; they also indicated they and everyone in the back were ok as well. I told the tug driver that I'd like to set the parking brake and stay in position until we could determine what happened; which he agreed. I set the brake and noticed the tug driver looking behind the aircraft's left wing. I opened my window and stuck my head out to see a catering truck very close to the aircraft just behind the left wing. I then noticed the catering truck backing up and pulling away. I asked the tug driver if we had hit the catering truck and he wasn't sure. He didn't think so; but was verifying. At this point I conversed with my First Officer and we determined it would be safest not to move the aircraft until it could be inspected by maintenance personnel. Once an inspection had been performed; we determined that it was best to return to the gate. I was also worried that the nose gear may have been stressed from the abrupt stop; so I elected to stay in position and have maintenance look at the condition of the nose gear as well prior to moving the aircraft. I made an announcement to update the passengers and made and AML (Approved Maintenance Logbook) entry while my First Officer worked with ops to coordinate a maintenance inspection and eventual return to the gate. Maintenance arrived and indicated that the tow bar shear pin had indeed sheared; but that the nose gear was not damaged. We got a new push crew and a new tow bar and were then towed back into the gate. Upon arrival; maintenance inspected the aircraft and no damage to the aircraft was found. I joined them in a second visual inspection and I also could not see any damage to any part of the fuselage or aft wing. I then had conversations with my First Officer; PHX maintenance; the Dispatch duty chief; the Chief; the dispatcher; Air Carrier; our flight attendants; as well as several passenger who both filmed and photographed the event. Several passengers voiced that they saw; heard; and felt us impact the catering truck. One passenger indicated she felt the impact of the vehicle just below the aircraft window. With conflicting information from ramp agents and passengers; I chose to err on the side of caution and refuse the aircraft until a more thorough inspection could be performed. We deplaned and continued to work with maintenance; our chief pilots; and our union to determine how we should proceed. It was determined that there were no other aircraft immediately available; and that we would have to wait for an inbound replacement aircraft. That plane still had not even landed in PHX. Once in PHX; it would then then need to deplane; the aircraft would need to be cleaned; catered and re-boarded. Given the additional delay; our updated time of arrival into ZZZ was XA:23. We determined the additional time caused by the event; fatigue from delays into ZZZ1 the night prior; and the stress of possibly damaging an aircraft and/or ground equipment was distracting and exhausting and chose not to continue to ZZZ . We removed ourselves from the flight due to Fatigue.Cause: A new company was providing all catering in PHX that day. They were catering the entire aircraft from the aft cabin door; which was unusual; probably unexpected; and was also taking longer than the norm. After the event; we went up to a manager's office and reviewed a video of the incident. It appears the wing walker was giving an 'all clear' signal at the beginning of the push; but then ran out with an 'X' almost immediately after the push began.Audio communication between all members of the push crew (including wing walkers) would bring everyone together a bit more and aid in situational awareness.
Second reporter narrative
On pushback; we traveled about 10-15 ft and came to an abrupt stop. The push crew notified us that we stopped due to a catering truck being in the way. The shear pin on the towbar had sheared and the ground crew was checking for damage. They checked for damage on both the nose wheel and to see if we had hit the catering truck. I called maintenance while the captain coordinated with the ramp and the flight attendant to make sure that everyone was OK. Maintenance then came out to check the nose gear and the area where the catering truck was in the back. The ramp found a new towbar and a new crew and once maintenance cleared us; towed us back into our parking spot; XX. The captain went outside with maintenance once the jetbridge was reattached. Both He and maintenance came to the conclusion that we did not get hit. But passengers commented on feeling an impact and had photos. We decided to deplane and refuse the aircraft.Cause: We were delayed due to coming in late from a previous flight. Everyone was working together to make sure that the flight would get out relatively on time. The push crew had limited view of behind the aircraft from where he was seated in the tug. The wing walker had initially indicated that all was clear and we could push. looking at the video after the fact; the area was not clear since there was a catering truck still at the aft of the aircraft. I believe this was due to complacency.
Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.