Large Transport
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Ground Event / Encounter Other / Unknown
General None Reported / Taken
Airport
After landing in RIC; I taxied to [the gate]. Approximately 30 feet from the gate; the aircraft came to a stop on its own and started to roll backwards. I applied brakes; stopped the aircraft; and guide man continued to motion us to move forward. I added power; but the aircraft did not move; as if it had hit a chock. I did not feel comfortable adding any more thrust so close to the jet way and personnel; so I set the parking brake. Guide man got a headset; plugged in; and told us we were in a rut; and that he would have to tow us in with a tug. I shut down the engines and he hooked us up to the tug. The tug did not have enough power to pull us out of the rut. He backed up about 30 feet and took a run at it; but there was not enough momentum to go over the rut; and the aircraft again stopped. He then backed up even farther; and got more momentum moving forward. This time the aircraft cleared the rut; and he pulled us to the jet way and we deplaned. Passengers were seated the whole time and advised of the situation. This took approximately 10-15 minutes after I initially pulled up to the gate.
Captain reported that a particular gate at RIC has a rut near the gate that is inhibiting aircraft from taxiing in easily.