A CL65 FLT CREW ENGAGED THE NOSEWHEEL BEFORE IT WAS DISCONNECTED FROM THE TUG RESULTING IN MAINT TO REALIGN THE TUG AND NOSE GEAR. IT ALSO CAUSED A CUT ON THE NOSEWHEEL.

Narrative

ON FLT XXXX FROM ORD TO MDT ON AUG/XX/04; CAPT X; AND FO X WERE ON BOARD READY TO PUSH OUT OF GATE. AFTER COMPLETING THE BEFORE START CHKLIST AND REQUESTED PUSHBACK FROM GND CTL. WE INITIATED A STRAIGHT OUT PUSH WITH A TURN AT THE END. THE PUSH WAS PERFORMED AT A QUICK PACE AND OVER SOME BUMPS. ONCE THE ACFT WAS STOPPED THE TUG WAS NOT ALIGNED WITH THE NOSE. WE HAD ASSUMED THE PUSH WAS COMPLETED; AND MY FO AND I INITIATED OUR AFTER START FLOWS. WHEN THE NOSEWHEEL WAS ENGAGED; THE NOSEWHEEL WHICH WAS AT AN ANGLE WITH THE TUG STRAIGHTENED; CAUSING THE NOSEWHEEL AND THE TUG TO BE UNALIGNED. THE RESULT WAS THAT THE GND CREW WAS UNABLE TO DISCONNECT WHICH NECESSITATED THE NEED FOR MAINT TO LIFT THE NOSE FROM THE TUG TO REALIGN IT. MAINT AND RAMP CREW WORKED FOR 20 MINS; IN AN ATTEMPT TO DISCONNECT THE TUG. WHAT CONSPIRED BENEATH US AS THE CREW WORKED WAS DIFFICULT TO DETERMINE FROM OUR POINT OF VIEW AT THE COCKPIT. APPARENTLY ONE OF THE NOSEWHEEL TIRE WAS LACERATED WHICH LED TO A RETURN TO THE GATE; FOR REPLACEMENT. ACFT WAS SWAPPED AND THE CREW CONTINUED TO MDT ON ANOTHER ACFT. ACFT XXX WAS RETURNED FOR A LATER FLT.