Incident with tug during pushback procedure reported by PIC of an A320 when the ground crew did not ...

Attributes
ACN	572611
Time
Date	200301
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : tist.airport
State Reference	FO
Altitude	agl single value : 0
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
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
Qualification	pilot : flight engineer pilot : commercial pilot : instrument pilot : multi engine pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 9000 flight time type : 1800
ASRS Report	572611
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Events
Anomaly	conflict : ground less severe non adherence : company policies
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	other
Consequence	other
Factors
Maintenance	performance deficiency : non compliance with legal requirements
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Company Maintenance Human Performance
Primary Problem	Maintenance Human Performance

Narrative:

During pushback, ground control asked us to tell the push crew to push far enough to allow access to the gate we pushed from. The crew did so, and we were given clearance to start engines during the pushback. Engine #1 was started and we commenced #2 engine start. I asked the push crew if we would be pulled forward to minimize jetblast hazard to GA ramp behind us. I received no response. I then called to push crew 3 more times, still no response. The plane was disconnected from the tow bar and the headset cord was removed without the parking brake set. (I noticed the bypass pin removal and due to the lack of communication, I set the parking brake as the plane started to roll.) the pushback crew deviated from SOP's by not telling us to set brakes, waiting for the 'brakes set pressure normal' cockpit response. They also never received 'cleared to disconnect' command from the cockpit crew. No injuries or damage was done to anything or anyone. For some unknown reason, the ground crew did not follow SOP's and caused a dangerous situation. I do not believe there were any language barriers or problems with the equipment. Compliance with SOP's by the ground push crew would have prevented this situation.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: INCIDENT WITH TUG DURING PUSHBACK PROC RPTED BY PIC OF AN A320 WHEN THE GND CREW DID NOT USE THE INTERCOM FOR COMS DURING PUSH AND ENG START AT TIST, FO.

Narrative: DURING PUSHBACK, GND CTL ASKED US TO TELL THE PUSH CREW TO PUSH FAR ENOUGH TO ALLOW ACCESS TO THE GATE WE PUSHED FROM. THE CREW DID SO, AND WE WERE GIVEN CLRNC TO START ENGS DURING THE PUSHBACK. ENG #1 WAS STARTED AND WE COMMENCED #2 ENG START. I ASKED THE PUSH CREW IF WE WOULD BE PULLED FORWARD TO MINIMIZE JETBLAST HAZARD TO GA RAMP BEHIND US. I RECEIVED NO RESPONSE. I THEN CALLED TO PUSH CREW 3 MORE TIMES, STILL NO RESPONSE. THE PLANE WAS DISCONNECTED FROM THE TOW BAR AND THE HEADSET CORD WAS REMOVED WITHOUT THE PARKING BRAKE SET. (I NOTICED THE BYPASS PIN REMOVAL AND DUE TO THE LACK OF COM, I SET THE PARKING BRAKE AS THE PLANE STARTED TO ROLL.) THE PUSHBACK CREW DEVIATED FROM SOP'S BY NOT TELLING US TO SET BRAKES, WAITING FOR THE 'BRAKES SET PRESSURE NORMAL' COCKPIT RESPONSE. THEY ALSO NEVER RECEIVED 'CLRED TO DISCONNECT' COMMAND FROM THE COCKPIT CREW. NO INJURIES OR DAMAGE WAS DONE TO ANYTHING OR ANYONE. FOR SOME UNKNOWN REASON, THE GND CREW DID NOT FOLLOW SOP'S AND CAUSED A DANGEROUS SIT. I DO NOT BELIEVE THERE WERE ANY LANGUAGE BARRIERS OR PROBS WITH THE EQUIP. COMPLIANCE WITH SOP'S BY THE GND PUSH CREW WOULD HAVE PREVENTED THIS SIT.

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.

Incident with tug during pushback procedure reported by PIC of an A320 when the ground crew did not use the intercom for communications during push and engine start at tist, first officer.