MD-82
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Situational Awareness; Communication Breakdown; Time Pressure
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Ground Event / Encounter Object
Aircraft Aircraft Damaged; Flight Crew Became Reoriented; General Maintenance Action
Human Factors; Procedure
Brakes parked just after pushback. Before taxi checklist complete except my rudder control check. Prior to receiving ground crew departure salute; I asked the First Officer to call for taxi in an effort to alert Ground Control and another carrier's jet also pushing back (uncontrolled ramp). Upon receiving taxi clearance from Ground Control; I instinctively released the brakes and began the taxi forward. Simultaneously; the First Officer said 'stop'; I realized my error; and I heard an unusual noise below. In quick order; I stopped the aircraft and parked the brakes. The Tug Driver (still connected) informed me that I had 'run over' the tow bar during my short taxi. After confirming no one was hurt in the incident; I called Operations for Maintenance to assess damage; if any. Maintenance determined (through conversations with Maintenance Control) that the aircraft needed a single nose tire change; but that is was safe to taxi to the gate. I believe there was some damage to the tow bar. After tire change; normal flight to filed destination. This incident reinforced to me the importance of exact procedural compliance and how any deviations can impact safety (other's lives) in our operations. In the future; I will be more aggressive in ensuring strict checklist discipline; specifically making no radio calls until receiving a departure salute and satisfactorily clearing the area before beginning taxi. I am extremely fortunate that my error did not result in injury of our push crew.
In hindsight; instead of calling for taxi I could have made a radio call pointing out our position to the other aircraft and Ground. It is my duty to back up the Captain and monitor all ground activities which I failed to do. I am thankful no one was hurt. Our procedures are in place for very good reasons.
A MD-80 Captain began taxiing and ran into the recently disconnected tow bar; damaging a nose tire before the Push Back crew gave a cleared to taxi release.