A B757 flight crew started to taxi out of the ramp area and felt a slight bump. The Captain stopped the aircraft and set the parking brake. The ground crew then called to say they were not clear and that the aircraft struck the tow bar.
Synopsis
A B757 flight crew started to taxi out of the ramp area and felt a slight bump. The Captain stopped the aircraft and set the parking brake. The ground crew then called to say they were not clear and that the aircraft struck the tow bar.
Narrative
Our aircraft pushed back from gate; tail south as directed by Ramp Control. The brakes were parked and we completed the start of the second engine. I was busy with the after start checklist and since I had not been here for some time; and the ramp had significant slush obscuring the markings; I was heads down reviewing the ramp and the airport diagram in anticipation of the taxi out. The Captain called for flaps to be set for 15 degrees and when I looked up; the surrounding area was clear. I set flaps 15 and secured the APU at his command; which completed the before taxi checklist; which I called complete. I then called ramp for clearance to taxi and was instructed to spot. The Captain called 'clear left' and I checked around and called 'clear right' and as we started to roll forward we felt a bump and we stopped. The Captain then stated that the Ground personnel were still under the nose and several seconds later we got a call from the tow crew that they had not cleared and we had bumped the tow bar. The Captain parked the brakes; I called ramp and told them we were shutting down engines; which we did. I then called maintenance and they came out to inspect the nose gear. They quickly inspected and told us that the gear was OK and cleared the aircraft as safe. The Captain; with my complete concurrence; elected to return to the gate and to personally inspect the gear and to speak with the maintenance and ground personnel. They signed off the logbook and once again assured us the aircraft was safe for flight. There was no aircraft damage and no one was injured.
Second reporter narrative
We had pushed back from gate and had been cleared for engine start. At the completion of push back; ground asked for parking brakes to be parked. I parked the brakes and cleared the crew for disconnect. When we completed starting the second engine; I called for flaps 15 and shut down APU. I looked out the window; saw no tug or ground personnel standing in front with the stop signal; and said to call for taxi clearance. Once again we cleared both sides of the aircraft and called clear left and clear right. When I released the brakes and started rolling forward; I felt a small bump. A second or two later from under the airplane one of the ground personnel appeared with the wands showing the stop signal. I then realized we had possibly bumped into the tug. Ground plugged in again and told us we bumped into the tow bar.
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Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.