37000 Feet | Browse and search NASA's Aviation Safety Reporting System |
|
Attributes | |
ACN | 1596508 |
Time | |
Date | 201811 |
Environment | |
Light | Night |
Aircraft 1 | |
Make Model Name | Commercial Fixed Wing |
Operating Under FAR Part | Part 121 |
Flight Phase | Taxi |
Aircraft 2 | |
Make Model Name | Commercial Fixed Wing |
Operating Under FAR Part | Part 121 |
Flight Phase | Parked |
Person 1 | |
Function | Ramp |
Events | |
Anomaly | Deviation - Procedural Published Material / Policy Ground Event / Encounter Other / Unknown |
Narrative:
I already [had] worked 5 hours and was asked to stay over as the staffing goes below the minimum and nobody on the tow team actually could tow or ride brakes. So I offer some help by staying to tow. However; because we are the line station and we have 2 aircraft go on maintenance; we have to do an extra tow to make way for other aircraft while the other aircraft are being looked at by maintenance. I was doing other tasks like reroute; redisplay and helping out with other flight before I could get to the main function which is towing. Before we pulled the aircraft; because the nature of the spot; I asked for additional wing walker to ensure the safety of the spot. The wing walker came out and asked if we are ok and I said we need you in order to wing-walk us in safely. He agreed with it and went over to the spot while we are pulling out of the gate area to the remote spot. As we [were] pulling into the spot; the captain side wing walker was not ready so I stop to wait for him to put his wand up. This is at night so all the wands were lit up and easy to see. As the captain side wing walker put his wand up and ready and my main marshaller signal for me to move in; I started to go in slowly. As the wing got closer to the other [aircraft] wing; nobody said anything and still let me go in until the wings are literally inches away. The wing walker ran out there and yelled stop and put his X up. As the wing walker put the X up; the main marshaller put his X up and also my brake rider told to me to stop on the headset. It took additional 2-3 seconds to actually stop the plane. I do not know if the plane's wings hit at this point but I could not feel anything. As my main marshaller told me to back it out; I released my foot on the brake and try to accelerate to back the plane out to the spot. However; as the spot we were on; there was a slope so the plane continues to move forward. The main marshaller yelled; woo; woo; woo. I immediately reapplied to brake to avoid the plane from rolling further. After that; I quickly put my foot on acceleration to back it out successfully with minor damage. Then I backed it out completely and go back in the other way to the spot.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: Air carrier tug driver reported the aircraft in tow contacted the adjacent aircraft's wing.
Narrative: I already [had] worked 5 hours and was asked to stay over as the staffing goes below the minimum and nobody on the tow team actually could tow or ride brakes. So I offer some help by staying to tow. However; because we are the line station and we have 2 aircraft go on maintenance; we have to do an extra tow to make way for other aircraft while the other aircraft are being looked at by Maintenance. I was doing other tasks like reroute; redisplay and helping out with other flight before I could get to the main function which is towing. Before we pulled the aircraft; because the nature of the spot; I asked for additional wing walker to ensure the safety of the spot. The wing walker came out and asked if we are ok and I said we need you in order to wing-walk us in safely. He agreed with it and went over to the spot while we are pulling out of the gate area to the remote spot. As we [were] pulling into the spot; the Captain side wing walker was not ready so I stop to wait for him to put his wand up. This is at night so all the wands were lit up and easy to see. As the captain side wing walker put his wand up and ready and my main marshaller signal for me to move in; I started to go in slowly. As the wing got closer to the other [aircraft] wing; nobody said anything and still let me go in until the wings are literally inches away. The wing walker ran out there and yelled stop and put his X up. As the wing walker put the X up; the main marshaller put his X up and also my brake rider told to me to stop on the headset. It took additional 2-3 seconds to actually stop the plane. I do not know if the plane's wings hit at this point but I could not feel anything. As my main marshaller told me to back it out; I released my foot on the brake and try to accelerate to back the plane out to the spot. However; as the spot we were on; there was a slope so the plane continues to move forward. The main marshaller yelled; Woo; woo; woo. I immediately reapplied to brake to avoid the plane from rolling further. After that; I quickly put my foot on acceleration to back it out successfully with minor damage. Then I backed it out completely and go back in the other way to the spot.
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.