Narrative:

Lax ramp issues again! Sitting in the jetway waiting for aircraft to arrive observed tug crew of 2 driving tug toward gate at a brisk speed. Just short of the gate the tug lurched (as though the driver put it into reverse) throwing the non driver off the tug and causing the engine hood to fly up and hit the driver in the back almost throwing him off the tug. It appeared that the rear wheels of the tug actually came off the ground. Both the driver and passenger laughed and shouted that 'that hurt;' however; continued driving the tug into position to later push the aircraft off the gate. Prior to push; a tug crew stood on top of the tug and motioned to pull external power. I pointed to my headphones and motioned for him to get on a headset. There was not one available; so he walked to gate xx to get one. Once he returned and hooked up the headset; he asked if it was ok to disconnect external power. I told him it was and asked about the nose gear bypass pin; but he did not answer. During the walkaround; the first officer noted the nose gear had the wrong size bypass pin installed. He commented to the tug lead about it. Prior to push; I asked if the correct type pin had been installed. The lead said he had it under control. At that time I noted a different tow bar being brought to the aircraft. These incidents once again demonstrate the unsafe attitude and conditions prevalent on the lax ramp. This is a daily event. How long will this go on before someone gets really hurt? Management and supervision on the lax ramp are directly responsible and culpable for this situation and any injuries and damage that occur. Clearly; the numerous reports of unsatisfactory attitudes and conditions have had little impact on improving the level of safety to even a reasonable level; much less a good level.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B737-900 CAPT RPTS UNPROFESSIONAL CONDUCT OF CONTRACT RAMP PERSONNEL AT LAX.

Narrative: LAX RAMP ISSUES AGAIN! SITTING IN THE JETWAY WAITING FOR ACFT TO ARRIVE OBSERVED TUG CREW OF 2 DRIVING TUG TOWARD GATE AT A BRISK SPD. JUST SHORT OF THE GATE THE TUG LURCHED (AS THOUGH THE DRIVER PUT IT INTO REVERSE) THROWING THE NON DRIVER OFF THE TUG AND CAUSING THE ENG HOOD TO FLY UP AND HIT THE DRIVER IN THE BACK ALMOST THROWING HIM OFF THE TUG. IT APPEARED THAT THE REAR WHEELS OF THE TUG ACTUALLY CAME OFF THE GND. BOTH THE DRIVER AND PAX LAUGHED AND SHOUTED THAT 'THAT HURT;' HOWEVER; CONTINUED DRIVING THE TUG INTO POS TO LATER PUSH THE ACFT OFF THE GATE. PRIOR TO PUSH; A TUG CREW STOOD ON TOP OF THE TUG AND MOTIONED TO PULL EXTERNAL PWR. I POINTED TO MY HEADPHONES AND MOTIONED FOR HIM TO GET ON A HEADSET. THERE WAS NOT ONE AVAILABLE; SO HE WALKED TO GATE XX TO GET ONE. ONCE HE RETURNED AND HOOKED UP THE HEADSET; HE ASKED IF IT WAS OK TO DISCONNECT EXTERNAL PWR. I TOLD HIM IT WAS AND ASKED ABOUT THE NOSE GEAR BYPASS PIN; BUT HE DID NOT ANSWER. DURING THE WALKAROUND; THE FO NOTED THE NOSE GEAR HAD THE WRONG SIZE BYPASS PIN INSTALLED. HE COMMENTED TO THE TUG LEAD ABOUT IT. PRIOR TO PUSH; I ASKED IF THE CORRECT TYPE PIN HAD BEEN INSTALLED. THE LEAD SAID HE HAD IT UNDER CTL. AT THAT TIME I NOTED A DIFFERENT TOW BAR BEING BROUGHT TO THE ACFT. THESE INCIDENTS ONCE AGAIN DEMONSTRATE THE UNSAFE ATTITUDE AND CONDITIONS PREVALENT ON THE LAX RAMP. THIS IS A DAILY EVENT. HOW LONG WILL THIS GO ON BEFORE SOMEONE GETS REALLY HURT? MGMNT AND SUPERVISION ON THE LAX RAMP ARE DIRECTLY RESPONSIBLE AND CULPABLE FOR THIS SITUATION AND ANY INJURIES AND DAMAGE THAT OCCUR. CLRLY; THE NUMEROUS RPTS OF UNSATISFACTORY ATTITUDES AND CONDITIONS HAVE HAD LITTLE IMPACT ON IMPROVING THE LEVEL OF SAFETY TO EVEN A REASONABLE LEVEL; MUCH LESS A GOOD LEVEL.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 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.