20091221052619I

Southwest airlines flight 2934 (phl-mco) was pushing off phl gate D2 at approximately 09:45 EST on 12/21/2009 when the pushback tug struck the #1 engine inlet cowl. Witnesses stated that the ramp alleyway consisted of a compressed snow/ice pack of approximately 2-3 inches in depth (the result of a 20+ inch snowfall on 12/19/2009). The pushback profile for this gate consisted of pushing the aircraft tail first into the alley and turning it 180 degrees near the aircraft release line for the alley (abeam gate D6). The tug driver cleared the captain to start engines and at least the right engine and maybe both engines were running at the time the ground crew pushed the aircraft through the turn. While the tug was 90 degrees to the aircraft, the thrust from the engine(s) started to move the aircraft forward dragging the tug with the tow bar still attached to the aircraft until the back of the tug struck the #1 engine nose cowl. As the aircraft started its forward movement, the wing walker (who was on the right side of the aircraft) moved forward to signal the flight crew to set the aircraft brakes. As this situation developed rapidly, it was unclear whether the crew had time to react. The engine(s) were shutdown after the tug struck the engine nose cowl. There were no reported injuries to ground personnel or those onboard the aircraft. Once aircraft movement had stopped, the rear of the push tug was against the nose cowl inlet but still attached to the aircraft nose gear. The tow bar shear pin was sheared and the nose wheels were turned significantly past the tow limit lines painted on the nose gear doors. The reported damage to the aircraft consisted of a puncture to the #1 engine nose cowl at the 5:00 position (facing the cowl), approximately 6" in depth and 8-10" in width, and a damaged tow lug on the nose gear.