American MD-80 damage LAX

[DHPFLYN]

Does anyone know what happened to the MD-80 in LAX? I was in Baltimore yesterday and our ops people showed us some pictures of the accident.

They were told the pilots powered up before the tow bar was released. It looked pretty bad. The tow bar looked like a candy cane and the pushback was swung into the aircraft on the F/O's side. Nice big hole on the front and side of the aircraft.

It just seems hard to believe they would just power up with the tug still attached.

 

[Cometman]

Does anyone know what happened to the MD-80 in LAX? I was in Baltimore yesterday and our ops people showed us some pictures of the accident.

They were told the pilots powered up before the tow bar was released. It looked pretty bad. The tow bar looked like a candy cane and the pushback was swung into the aircraft on the F/O's side. Nice big hole on the front and side of the aircraft.

It just seems hard to believe they would just power up with the tug still attached.

Why does it seem hard to believe? Accidents happen all the time. Nobody is perfect. People make mistakes.

 

[XTW]

Sounds like an incident that happened last year. I'll look for specifics.


X

 

[jimcav]

I've had rampers walk away without giving an all clear signal. Usually happens during a distraction. All I can say is call ground or ramp, and ask if the tug is clear. What these guys did is easy to do. There I go myself...

 

[Amish RakeFight]

Pics...

 

[STL717]

From the NTSB report
On December 26, 2008, at 0859 pacific standard time, American Airlines flight 1350, an MD-83
(registration N9617R), impacted its tug during pushback operations at Los Angeles International
Airport. No injuries were reported to the 124 passengers, 3 flight attendants, 2 pilots, or the
tug operator; however, the airplane sustained substantial damage to the lower portion of the
forward fuselage.
The number 1 engine was started during the pushback. The tug operator stated that as he was
preparing to transition the airplane from being pushed back to pulling it forward, the airplane
began to accelerate forward. The tug operator applied the brakes but the airplane continued to
move forward, causing the tug to jack-knife back and forth until it was impacted by the airplane.
FDR data and crew interview statements indicate that an increase in power on the number 1 engine
was commanded around the time the tug was preparing to pull the airplane forward.​

Updated on Feb 3 2009 12:46PM

http://jetphotos.net/viewphoto.php?id=6458658&nseq=139

 

[livintheredream]

Sounds like what CAL did in EWR back in '99 or so when they ran the AC into the terminal. MX started the eng at the gate with the throttle up. Totaled the AC. This one lookes totaled as well.

 

[ACL65PILOT]

Man that might have hit the pressure hull. Ugly! It happens though.

We had a 73N up in PHL or PIT that was there for more than a month getting repairs done just so it could get to ATL. You would be surprised how much of this happens on a weekly basis.

 

[airplane wizard]

glad no one was hurt

 

[AA717driver]

On the 757, a certain combination of buttons and radios will allow the ground crew to hear the ramp freq. Several times ramp has cleared us to push and the ground crew thought they had been cleared to push us.

A lot of CA's will kick off the brakes when the ground crews check in.

TC

 

[DH106]

Man that might have hit the pressure hull. Ugly! It happens though.

We had a 73N up in PHL or PIT that was there for more than a month getting repairs done just so it could get to ATL. You would be surprised how much of this happens on a weekly basis.

I remember seeing that 737-800 at PHL for a long while. It looked like it was sitting "crooked." Do you know what happened with that one?

Regarding this MD80, man, I feel bad for this crew.

 

[StopNTSing]

Is the MD80 authorized to be pulled by a tug (as opposed to pushed) with one or more engines running? That's a big no-no for us on the 73s.

 

[ACL65PILOT]

I remember seeing that 737-800 at PHL for a long while. It looked like it was sitting "crooked." Do you know what happened with that one?

Regarding this MD80, man, I feel bad for this crew.

A tow bar was shot up in to the gear well, went though the pressure hull and caused a ton of damage. (something like 3 million but I cannot remember the exact number) It was a mess.

 

[andyd]

Something similar happened to me on the 88 in Bos 2 years ago, late night push/stormy/rainy last flight of a long day type a deal. Began a smooth push, a/c rocks a little bit as we push back and then, snap....crackle...pop and we come to a stop another 5-6 feet back. Tow bar became de-tached from the nose gear and the tug driver slams on the breaks only the have the master cylindar take a dump on the tug, tug accelerates and cork screws the tow bar up the nose gear like a pretzel and take out the gear doors in the process.

Amazingly enough, LGA had the parts in stock, they got 'em up to BOS and we pushed 4 hours later for ATL....got into ATL just under 16 hr duty day. Full boat of pax too and not one peep from anyone, they were just happy to get home that night.

 

[Fubijaakr]

It just seems hard to believe they would just power up with the tug still attached.

We had a Captain who decided to do a cross bleed start with the tug still attached and the same thing happened. Oh well...

 

[Baronman]

We had a Captain who decided to do a cross bleed start with the tug still attached and the same thing happened. Oh well...

I'd say the FO was out to lunch too for not saying, "uhhh...this probably isn't a good idea."

Or maybe he did and got to laugh about it later.