While holding in line for takeoff; B737-300 empennage is struck by A320 passing behind.

Attributes
ACN	716211
Time
Date	200611
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : ord.airport
State Reference	IL
Altitude	agl single value : 0
Environment
Flight Conditions	Marginal
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : ord.tower
Make Model Name	B737-300
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	ground : holding
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Controlling Facilities	tower : ord.tower
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	A320
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	ground : taxi
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 130 flight time total : 13600 flight time type : 5970
ASRS Report	716211
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Events
Anomaly	conflict : ground critical
Independent Detector	other flight crewa other flight crewb
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact other
Consequence	other other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Airport Aircraft Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance

Narrative:

While taxiing out for takeoff on runway 32L at T10; we were stopped on taxiway J1 behind an rj. While on the taxiway; we felt what best can be described as a 'shudder' that felt like it came from the rear of the aircraft. The captain and I were discussing what could have caused it when I looked out my window to the rear of the aircraft and saw an A320 behind us. The A320 was taxiing north on taxiway J. I told the captain 'I think we were just hit by an airbus taxiing behind us.' one of the flight attendants in the rear of the aircraft called at that time and asked; 'what was that?' I asked if she felt the aircraft move and she said she had. I then asked if she heard anything as well. She stated she heard a 'bang' at the same time she felt the shudder. I relayed this information to the captain and we determined that we would go back to the gate. The captain advised ATC that we suspected an aircraft had made contact with us. ATC queried the other aircraft; who then also returned to the gate. Once we were parked at gate maintenance found damage to the horizontal stabilizer and elevator.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: WHILE HOLDING IN LINE FOR TKOF; B737-300 EMPENNAGE IS STRUCK BY A320 PASSING BEHIND.

Narrative: WHILE TAXIING OUT FOR TKOF ON RWY 32L AT T10; WE WERE STOPPED ON TXWY J1 BEHIND AN RJ. WHILE ON THE TXWY; WE FELT WHAT BEST CAN BE DESCRIBED AS A 'SHUDDER' THAT FELT LIKE IT CAME FROM THE REAR OF THE ACFT. THE CAPT AND I WERE DISCUSSING WHAT COULD HAVE CAUSED IT WHEN I LOOKED OUT MY WINDOW TO THE REAR OF THE ACFT AND SAW AN A320 BEHIND US. THE A320 WAS TAXIING N ON TXWY J. I TOLD THE CAPT 'I THINK WE WERE JUST HIT BY AN AIRBUS TAXIING BEHIND US.' ONE OF THE FLT ATTENDANTS IN THE REAR OF THE ACFT CALLED AT THAT TIME AND ASKED; 'WHAT WAS THAT?' I ASKED IF SHE FELT THE ACFT MOVE AND SHE SAID SHE HAD. I THEN ASKED IF SHE HEARD ANYTHING AS WELL. SHE STATED SHE HEARD A 'BANG' AT THE SAME TIME SHE FELT THE SHUDDER. I RELAYED THIS INFO TO THE CAPT AND WE DETERMINED THAT WE WOULD GO BACK TO THE GATE. THE CAPT ADVISED ATC THAT WE SUSPECTED AN ACFT HAD MADE CONTACT WITH US. ATC QUERIED THE OTHER ACFT; WHO THEN ALSO RETURNED TO THE GATE. ONCE WE WERE PARKED AT GATE MAINT FOUND DAMAGE TO THE HORIZ STABILIZER AND ELEVATOR.

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.