20140216003539I

Incident · Substantial damage

FAA incident report · Mcdonnell Douglas DC-9-82(MD-82) · Baltimore, MD · February 16, 2014

Date: February 16, 2014 · 16:07 local
Place: Baltimore, MD
Phase of flight: Ground/Ramp/Ma
Operating rules: Air carrier (Part 121)
Operator: AALA
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N499AA
Reported as: Mcdonnell Douglas DC-9-82(MD-82)
Reported engine: Pratt & Whitney JT8D series
People aboard: 80
Fatal injuries: 0
Other injuries: 1

N499AARegistration cancelled Nov 8, 2024 · Mcdonnell Douglas DC-9-82(MD-82)S/N 49737 · Built 1989 Airframe modelMcdonnell Douglas DC-9-82(MD-82)Engine modelPratt & Whitney JT8D seriesTurbo-jet

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

During the push back process, American airlines flt 140 substained substantial damage due to a collision with the push back tractor. The tractor hit the aircraft while ground personnel were in the process of connecting the tow bar to the aircraft. The aircraft suffered damage to the radome, radar, pressure bulkhead and the surrounding fuselage.

The tractor driver was trapped in the tractor until rescued by the fire/rescue team. The tractor driver complained that her knee hurt and was transported to a local hospital.

The tug driver was not trained to operate the tow tractor.

American airlines' ground crew employees were not following American airlines' line cargo manual procedures section 8.10.8.2 which states: the pushback tractor must be connected to the towbar immediately after connecting the towbar with the aircraft.

This matter is still under investigation. Will amend as necessary.

As the FAA filed it

DURING THE PUSH BACK PROCESS, AMERICAN AIRLINES FLT 140 SUBSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE DUE TO A COLLISION WITH THE PUSH BACK TRACTOR. THE TRACTOR HIT THE AIRCRAFT WHILE GROUND PERSONNEL WERE IN THE PROCESS OF CONNECTING THE TOW BAR TO THE AIRCRAFT. THE AIRCRAFT SUFFERED DAMAGE TO THE RADOME, RADAR, PRESSURE BULKHEAD AND THE SURROUNDING FUSELAGE.

THE TRACTOR DRIVER WAS TRAPPED IN THE TRACTOR UNTIL RESCUED BY THE FIRE/RESCUE TEAM. THE TRACTOR DRIVER COMPLAINED THAT HER KNEE HURT AND WAS TRANSPORTED TO A LOCAL HOSPITAL.

THE TUG DRIVER WAS NOT TRAINED TO OPERATE THE TOW TRACTOR.

AMERICAN AIRLINES' GROUND CREW EMPLOYEES WERE NOT FOLLOWING AMERICAN AIRLINES' LINE CARGO MANUAL PROCEDURES SECTION 8.10.8.2 WHICH STATES: THE PUSHBACK TRACTOR MUST BE CONNECTED TO THE TOWBAR IMMEDIATELY AFTER CONNECTING THE TOWBAR WITH THE AIRCRAFT.

THIS MATTER IS STILL UNDER INVESTIGATION. WILL AMEND AS NECESSARY.

Other reports on N499AA · 3

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

Incident 20020621021699INormal Cruise · Grand Rapids, MI(-23) On June 21, 2002, at 1518Z, American airline, N499AA, experienced a burning smell throughout cabin on take off roll, turned off recirculating fan, smell dissipated. Re-occurred 1 1/2 hrs later into the flight. The smell grew stronger throughout cabin,…Jun 21, 2002 Incident 19930531036599IFcd/Prec Ldg From Cruise · Washington, DCPassenger refused to stop smoking on non smoking flight. Assaulted flight attendants. Airport security met aircraftMay 31, 1993 Incident 19900619030309IGround Taxi, Other Airplane · Chicago, ILAs pushback from gate completed a baggage cart detached from a line and hit aircraft.Jun 19, 1990 · Minor damage