B737-700
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 135
Communication Breakdown; Training / Qualification; Situational Awareness; Confusion
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical; Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Illness / Injury; Ground Event / Encounter Other / Unknown
Flight Crew Returned To Gate; General Maintenance Action; General Flight Cancelled / Delayed
Aircraft; Procedure; Human Factors
[We] pushed back from gate for a single engine taxi to the runway. Ramp Control asked for a right turn out as company was entering the zone for Gate X. We had not been pushed back very far; so this required a hard right turn. The aircraft was moving slowly and even with full right tiller; the aircraft was turning left. I stopped the aircraft and we started Engine Number One. With both engines running and full right tiller; the aircraft was still turning left toward the terminal. I stopped abruptly and set the brake. Some Ramp personnel came out and gave me the 'cut engine' sign. I shut down both engines and was towed back to Gate X. At the gate; the Ramp personnel informed me that the nose wheel had 'folded over' and that as we were towed in; it righted itself. Upon inspection; there was evidence of wear on the left sidewall of the left nose wheel and skid marks on the ramp: 1) The Ramp Supervisor came out and assured me that the pushback crew said that all was as usual when they pulled the nose gear pin. 2) A Flight Attendant in the forward galley reported that she might have been injured during the sudden stop as her back was starting to hurt. Crew Scheduling was called and she was pulled from the trip. The Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) arrived and she elected to not go to the emergency room; but stated that she might like to visit a clinic later.3) Ramp Control was concerned that we had a disabled aircraft parked on their 'zipper road.' It was moved within a short period of time.4) Contract Maintenance was called to change the nose gear tires. He was unable to do so as one of the tires on hand had no Part Number (P/N). A new set of tires was flown in on a terminator [flight] from ZZZ2. 5) We later took that terminating aircraft to ZZZ1 arriving two hours and forty five minutes late. Many passengers had missed their connections.  I should not have attempted a tight; right turn with only the right engine operating. I have had very little experience with single engine taxi; but still should have known better. Once I realized that it wasn't progressing as desired; I did stop the aircraft and start the second engine. I am assuming that the tire 'roll over' occurred while on one engine and could not be rectified by taxiing on two [engines]. At the time; I suspected a nose gear steering problem as the tiller was ineffectual and the aircraft was turning toward the terminal. I stopped abruptly when I realized I had no steering control. Nose wheel had buckled on single engine taxi.
During pushback we had some communication issues as I suggested single engine taxi. Captain did not understand what I was saying at first; but then agreed it was a good idea because of our distance we had to taxi. I suggested; however; after the pushback stopped that maybe we were not far enough back to do so because a right turn may be difficult; but we decided it would be ok with a left turn. After engine start; we were told we had to make a right turn and Captain decided she was ok doing it. I suggested she make sure we roll forward before we turn. I did not know at the time that she had never performed a single engine taxi before. We did not roll forward far enough before turning and so the power quickly was above recommended. We decided to start the other engine; but as we stopped the turn to do so; the plane started going left (tire folded) and she stopped abruptly. We got the other engine started and checked with the Ramp and they informed us of the condition of the nose tire. We shut down and were towed in.The single engine taxi should not have been attempted to the right under those conditions. The Captain's inexperience with that procedure would have prompted me to be way more cautious had I known about it. Nose wheel tire collapsed during taxi.
Two pilots report about the left nose wheel folding under and collapsing during a hard right turn after pushback; using only Number 2 Engine power. The flight crew had to stop their single engine taxi out due to the B737-700 aircraft had continued turning left towards the Terminal; regardless of tiller position.