Description

On 27 September 2017, an Airbus A320 (EC-LVQ) being operated by Iberia Express on a scheduled international passenger flight from Dublin to Madrid was hit by the tug, which was manoeuvring it off gate 318R onto apron taxiway 5 in normal day visibility from where taxiing could commence, when the tow bar shear pin failed. As a result of this, the driver lost control and the tug then collided with the aircraft right engine causing damage to both the tug and the aircraft but no ground crew injuries.

Investigation

An Investigation was carried out by the Irish AAIU. Recorded engine data covering the start which was taking place at the time the shear pin failed was obtained from the PCMCIA card in the Fight Data Interface Management Unit.

It was noted that the tow was being performed for the aircraft operator by a ground services contractor. It was established that departures from gate 318R required the aircraft to be positioned by a push back tow followed by a pull forward tow so that the aircraft could begin taxiing on Apron taxiway 5 from the position identified as TRP ‘N’. The illustration below shows the pushback/pull forward lines marked on the apron surface (and required to be followed for A320 push-pull towing from gate 318R in the Airport Operator’s Aerodrome Manual) and the estimated actual pushback and pull forward track. A standard three-man ground crew team was used - a supervisor in contact with the flight crew, the tug driver and a wingman.