# Accident 20190128023919A: Airbus A320-214, Denver, CO, January 28, 2019

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: January 28, 2019, 06:17 local time
- Place: Denver, CO
- Airport: Denver International
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Ground/Ramp/Ma
- Operating rules: Air carrier (Part 121)
- Operator: F3LA
- Location: 39.8561° N, 104.6736° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.8561&lon=-104.6736&mi=10
- Aircraft: N220FR, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N220FR-2022-07-11) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Airbus A320-214 (registry code 3940006, https://openairdocs.org/model/airbus-a320-214) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: CFM International CFM56-5B4/3 series (registry code 13090, https://openairdocs.org/engine/cfm-international-cfm56-5b4-3-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AIRBUS A320-214
- Reported engine: CFM INTL CFM56-5B4/3
- People aboard: 195
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB DCA19CA079](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA19CA079) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190128023919A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

DURING THE PUSHBACK FROM GATE A36 THE TUG OPERATOR WAS ATTEMPTING TO STRAIGHTEN THE POSITION OF THE AIRCRAFT IN THE TAXIWAY SO THAT THE TAIL OF THE AIRCRAFT WAS POINTED TO THE EAST. DURING THIS POINT OF THE OPERATION  BOTH  AIRCRAFT  ENGINES HAD STARTED. THE AIRCRAFT BEGAN TO SLIDE DUE TO THE SNOW/ICE ON THE TAXIWAY. THIS ACTION BEGAN PUSHING THE TUG TO PIVOT OVER TO THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE AIRCRAFT. AS A RESULT THE TOW BAR SNAPPED, THE TUG THEN CAME IN CONTACT WITH THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE AIRCRAFT IN THE AREA OF THE FORWARD FUSELAGE (FORWARD OF THE RIGHT WING TO BODY FAIRING), NOSE WHEEL WELL AREA AND LEFT SIDE OF THE #2 ENGINE. THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST WITH THE LEFT SIDE OF THE #2 ENGINE AIR INTAKE COWL LEADING EDGE AGAINST THE TUG.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB DCA19CA079](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA19CA079), Jan 28, 2019: Airbus A320 (N220FR), Denver, CO, substantial damage. Probable cause: loss of control of the tug by the driver during pushback operations as a result of the contaminated ramp, angle of the towbar, and the airplane engines being at idle thrust.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft 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. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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