B737-800
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 200
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Ground Event / Encounter Vehicle
Aircraft Aircraft Damaged
Equipment / Tooling; Human Factors; Procedure
We obtained Ramp clearance to push. While waiting for A Flight Attendant; cockpit door still open; Captain said 'Brakes released; standby to push; but do not push.' Aircraft rolled back slightly. Captain repeated three times 'stop the push! Do not push!' Aircraft came to a stop. Tug driver said he was not able to stop until the tug hit the left side of the aircraft.
Communications was established with tug driver; but driver was not given clearance by the flight crew to begin pushback. Driver began pushback; Captain instructed the driver to stop the push three times with no response; then the driver excitedly responded that the tow bar had become disconnected and to stop the aircraft. The aircraft was stopped smoothly from a slow speed and the tug impacted the side of the aircraft with enough energy to become wedged under the aircraft.Preventative Measures: Better communications between the tug driver and flight deck; repeating back instructions to the pilot (e.g. cleared to push; tail west). Most airlines do this. A procedure the flight deck is aware of in the event of lost COMM or towbar disconnect with the ground crew. This should be a minor abnormal event; not an accident waiting to happen.
A Boeing 737 flight crew reported that during push-back the tow bar became disconnected and the tug contacted the aircraft.