A320
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 150; Flight Crew Total 19000; Flight Crew Type 800
Communication Breakdown; Situational Awareness
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Ground Event / Encounter Loss Of Aircraft Control
Flight Crew Regained Aircraft Control
Equipment / Tooling; Human Factors; Procedure
Our push back crew failed to secure the tow bar to the pushback vehicle; resulting in the aircraft being pushed back without control. I applied brakes gently after recognizing the problem; but the brakes did not respond immediately due to the generator coming on line after engine start. Shortly thereafter; the brakes did respond resulting in an abrupt stop. There were no injuries or damage to airplane.
When pushback of the A320 was initiated without the tow bar securely attached to the tug; the aircraft rolled backwards without restraint and had to be braked abruptly to a halt by the flight crew.