Regional Jet 700 ER/LR (CRJ700)
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Other / Unknown; Ground Event / Encounter Other / Unknown
General Maintenance Action
Equipment / Tooling
We were cleared to push Aircraft X. During pushback; the Supertug began to lurch when brakes were applied at the end of the push. The aircraft began to bounce violently in the cradle; with the nose gear nearly escaping the cradle. During that lurching and bouncing; the nose gear rotated approximately thirty degrees while remaining in the cradle. I put the tractor into neutral; brought it to a stop; contacted the Tower to advise of the issue and lowered the aircraft. We chocked the main gear; and I attempted to open the cradle to recapture the aircraft and continue the tow. While opening; the sensor would not read the cradle as fully open; and a hydraulic leak was noticed. [Shop was] notified and removed the tractor with a wrecker for Maintenance. It was returned to service [the day after].The lurching behavior that happened has been previously reported to Management by several [ramp employees]. There has been no fix. If this tractor is not removed from service; an aircraft will escape the cradle and create potential injury or aircraft damage.
Tractor driver reported the tug began to lurch and bounce when the brakes were applied.