A320 FLT CREW ALLOWS THE GND CREW TO PUSH THE ACFT PRIOR TO ENSURING THAT THE AREA BEHIND THE ACFT IS CLR AT LAX.

Date: 2003-10 · Aircraft: A320

Anomalies: deviation-discrepancy-procedural-published-material-policy|ground-event-encounter-other-unknown|ground-event-encounter-person-animal-bird|ground-event-encounter-vehicle

Synopsis

A320 FLT CREW ALLOWS THE GND CREW TO PUSH THE ACFT PRIOR TO ENSURING THAT THE AREA BEHIND THE ACFT IS CLR AT LAX.

Narrative

AFTER ACFT WAS STOPPED; GND CREW INFORMED CAPT OF THE NEED TO PUSH ACFT BACK ABOUT 6 INCHES. #1 ENG WAS STILL RUNNING AND RED ROTATING BEACON WAS ON. BIG PROB/SAFETY ISSUE: RECEIPT/PUSH CREW DID NOT COORDINATE WITH OTHER GND SVC PERSONNEL BEFORE OR DURING ACFT RELOCATION. GATE AGENT NEVER KNEW WHAT WAS HAPPENING AND TRIED TO PULL THE JETWAY UP TO THE ACFT TWICE. THE BAGGAGE CREW STARTED OPENING BOTH CARGO DOORS. AFTER CONNECTING TOWBAR AND TUG; PUSH CREW RPTED; 'READY TO PUSH.' LUCKILY; WE COULD SEE A REFLECTION OF THE ACFT AND ITS IMMEDIATE SURROUNDINGS IN THE TERMINAL WINDOWS AND KNEW THAT THE ACFT WAS NOT CLR OF EQUIP AND PERSONNEL. CAPT HAD TO INSTRUCT PUSH CREW TO ENSURE ACFT WAS CLR. AFTER ACFT WAS CLR; PUSHBACK BEGAN. DURING PUSH; WE SAW IN THE TERMINAL WINDOW REFLECTION; A CATERING OR CLEANING TRUCK PULLING IN BEHIND THE R WING IN ORDER TO ACCESS DOOR. LUCKILY; PUSH WAS COMPLETE BEFORE THE TRAILING EDGE OF THE R WING HIT THE TRUCK. IN 2 MINS; THERE WERE AT LEAST 3 TIMES WE THOUGHT SOMETHING WAS GOING TO GET BENT OR SOMEONE WAS GOING TO GET HURT. THE PUSH CREW FAILED TO TAKE COMMAND OF THE AREA SURROUNDING THE ACFT AND JEOPARDIZED THE SAFETY OF THE OP.

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Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.