B737-700
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 314
Workload; Situational Awareness; Confusion; Time Pressure
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Flight Crew Became Reoriented; General Maintenance Action
Environment - Non Weather Related; Human Factors
After a fairly lengthy delay; we started our pushback. We were trying to get things moving. I believe in my haste; I had released the parking brake; but I didn't verify the red light extinguished. In short; in my haste I lost my SA. The pushback guy mentioned he thought a chock was still under the wheels. After verifying there wasn't a chock; he continued pushing the aircraft. Shortly; there was a bang; the tow bar pin had sheared; and the nose wheel was cocked to the left past the turning point markers. Maintenance was notified. Logbook entry made. Maintenance had to do an inspection. Regardless of any situation; distractions; etc.; I need to slow down and double check myself when things aren't exactly in a normal comfortable flow.
Before Start Checklist was performed correctly; but Captain thought the brakes were released and initiated the pushback. Tow bar sheared.Got caught in the typical trap of rushing. When things aren't running smoothly; it is time to slow down.
A B737 Captain failed to release the parking brake before he initiated gate pushback resulting in sheared tow bar bolts and the nose wheel turning to an unusual angle.