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B737 captain reported the momentum of the aircraft depleted due to a depressed area ahead of the gate.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 1584043 |
| Time | |
| Date | 201810 |
| Local Time Of Day | 0001-0600 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | EWR.Airport |
| State Reference | NJ |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | VMC |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Make Model Name | B737 Undifferentiated or Other Model |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 121 |
| Flight Phase | Taxi |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Function | Captain Pilot Flying |
| Qualification | Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP) Flight Crew Instrument Flight Crew Multiengine |
| Experience | Flight Crew Type 1278 |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | Ground Event / Encounter Other / Unknown |
Narrative:
Taxiing into gate; single engine; I felt a defining dip in the concrete that stopped my aircraft. The momentum of the aircraft depleted upon almost exiting this depressed area; and we drifted back into the center of it before I recognized that we were moving backwards. I applied maximum allowed thrust; as the marshall was directing me to move forward. We were about ten feet from the stop point. The aircraft wouldn't move; so we had to shut the engine down; and have a tug pull us the remaining distance. Needless to say; passengers had to be informed so they would remain seated. It was embarrassing. I explained what happened to the marshaller; who informed me that this is a common occurrence at this gate. Please note: I have learned; from experience; that taxiing with one engine shut down and approaching a gate; it's easy to get caught short of the gate and not being able to power forward due to an uphill grade. Therefore; I approach the gate at 30% N1; and ride the brakes. This prevents the aircraft from getting behind the power necessary to approach the gate. Using this technique; I was still unable to reach this gate. My aircraft drifting backwards was unexpected and very unsafe.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: B737 Captain reported the momentum of the aircraft depleted due to a depressed area ahead of the gate.
Narrative: Taxiing into gate; single engine; I felt a defining dip in the concrete that stopped my aircraft. The momentum of the aircraft depleted upon almost exiting this depressed area; and we drifted back into the center of it before I recognized that we were moving backwards. I applied maximum allowed thrust; as the marshall was directing me to move forward. We were about ten feet from the stop point. The aircraft wouldn't move; so we had to shut the engine down; and have a tug pull us the remaining distance. Needless to say; passengers had to be informed so they would remain seated. It was embarrassing. I explained what happened to the marshaller; who informed me that this is a common occurrence at this gate. Please note: I have learned; from experience; that taxiing with one engine shut down and approaching a gate; it's easy to get caught short of the gate and not being able to power forward due to an uphill grade. Therefore; I approach the gate at 30% N1; and ride the brakes. This prevents the aircraft from getting behind the power necessary to approach the gate. Using this technique; I was still unable to reach this gate. My aircraft drifting backwards was unexpected and very unsafe.
Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.