An A320 crew, during pushback and engine start, instead of operating the engine mode selector, opera...

Attributes
ACN	531973
Time
Date	200112
Day	Thu
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : zzz.airport
State Reference	US
Altitude	agl single value : 0
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	A320
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	other
Flight Phase	ground : pushback
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 190 flight time total : 11000 flight time type : 4500
ASRS Report	531973
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Events
Anomaly	cabin event other non adherence : published procedure non adherence : company policies other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa other flight crewb
Resolutory Action	none taken : unable
Consequence	other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Aircraft Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

During pushback, we were cleared to start engines. In order to initiate engine start, the engine mode selector must be turned to the right. Instead of turning the mode selector to the right, I accidentally turned the parking brake switch to the right, bringing the aircraft to a sudden stop. Although the switches have different shapes, they are located in the same general area of the control panel and both turn to the right to accurate. The sudden stop broke the towbar and a flight attendant was injured requiring a trip to the emergency room. She was treated and released. There was no damage to the aircraft, and no one was injured on the ground. The event happened during the 11TH hour of a 12 hour duty day. The day consisted of 4 1-HR legs with a 1 1/2 - 2 hour situation time between each leg. Shown time was XA50 with mountain time with release at XA00 pacific time. I feel that fatigue was a factor. I believe that sitting around waiting for the next departure is just as tiring as being in the air the whole time. The longer the wait on the ground, the longer it takes to get into the flying frame of mind. Every time we got into the cockpit to fly another leg was like starting a whole new day. I am being more careful about which switch I am putting my hand on now. Especially when it's late in the day.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN A320 CREW, DURING PUSHBACK AND ENG START, INSTEAD OF OPERATING THE ENG MODE SELECTOR, OPERATED THE PARKING BRAKE SELECTOR, BRINGING THE ACFT TO A SUDDEN STOP. INJURY TO A FLT ATTENDANT AND DAMAGE TO THE TOWBAR WAS THE RESULT.

Narrative: DURING PUSHBACK, WE WERE CLRED TO START ENGS. IN ORDER TO INITIATE ENG START, THE ENG MODE SELECTOR MUST BE TURNED TO THE R. INSTEAD OF TURNING THE MODE SELECTOR TO THE R, I ACCIDENTALLY TURNED THE PARKING BRAKE SWITCH TO THE R, BRINGING THE ACFT TO A SUDDEN STOP. ALTHOUGH THE SWITCHES HAVE DIFFERENT SHAPES, THEY ARE LOCATED IN THE SAME GENERAL AREA OF THE CTL PANEL AND BOTH TURN TO THE R TO ACCURATE. THE SUDDEN STOP BROKE THE TOWBAR AND A FLT ATTENDANT WAS INJURED REQUIRING A TRIP TO THE EMER ROOM. SHE WAS TREATED AND RELEASED. THERE WAS NO DAMAGE TO THE ACFT, AND NO ONE WAS INJURED ON THE GND. THE EVENT HAPPENED DURING THE 11TH HR OF A 12 HR DUTY DAY. THE DAY CONSISTED OF 4 1-HR LEGS WITH A 1 1/2 - 2 HR SIT TIME BTWN EACH LEG. SHOWN TIME WAS XA50 WITH MOUNTAIN TIME WITH RELEASE AT XA00 PACIFIC TIME. I FEEL THAT FATIGUE WAS A FACTOR. I BELIEVE THAT SITTING AROUND WAITING FOR THE NEXT DEP IS JUST AS TIRING AS BEING IN THE AIR THE WHOLE TIME. THE LONGER THE WAIT ON THE GND, THE LONGER IT TAKES TO GET INTO THE FLYING FRAME OF MIND. EVERY TIME WE GOT INTO THE COCKPIT TO FLY ANOTHER LEG WAS LIKE STARTING A WHOLE NEW DAY. I AM BEING MORE CAREFUL ABOUT WHICH SWITCH I AM PUTTING MY HAND ON NOW. ESPECIALLY WHEN IT'S LATE IN THE DAY.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 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.

An A320 crew, during pushback and engine start, instead of operating the engine mode selector, operated the parking brake selector, bringing the aircraft to a sudden stop. Injury to a flight attendant and damage to the towbar was the result.