# NTSB DCA11CA073: Boeing 757-222, N571UA, San Fransico, CA, June 12, 2011

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: June 11, 2011, 17:58 local (Jun 12, 2011, 00:58 UTC)
- Place: San Fransico, CA
- Coordinates: 37.618057, -122.387779 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.6181&lon=-122.3878&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Pushback/towing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/200) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Pushback/tow-engine not oper: Ground handling event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/080)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 190 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report August 31, 2011
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Major Investigations Division
- Parties: United Airlines
- NTSB case key (mKey): 80839
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DCA11CA073
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/80839/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA11CA073

## Probable cause

The ramp personnel's failure to visually verify the position of the jetway before beginning the airplane pushback.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Towing and taxiing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01010900): Aircraft › Aircraft handling/service · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01010900/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Pushback/tow-engine not oper: Ground handling event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/080) (defining event); cases with it: [All aircraft, 108 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/080/sequence.md)

## Analysis

On June 16, 2011 at approximately 1758 pacific daylight time, United flight 818, a Boeing 757-200, registration N571UA, was substantially damaged during initial pushback from gate 73 at San Francisco International Airport (SFO), San Francisco, California. There were no injuries to the 188 passengers and crew onboard. The flight was a regularly scheduled domestic passenger flight from SFO to Chicago O'Hare International Airport, Chicago, Illinois. United representatives reported that normal passenger and crew boarding was accomplished using door 2L. The passenger loading bridge (PLB) operator stated she was in position at the loading bridge controls and was prepared to retract the bridge. She reported that the airplane door was closed and the loading bridge canopy was retracted. The PLB operator stated she was waiting for hand signal guidance from the ramp personnel to retract the bridge from the airplane. The PLB operator stated the signal to retract the bridge from the airplane was not received, however, the ramp personnel proceeded to push back the airplane. The ramp employee responsible for the airplane pushback reported that he heard the PLB bell ringing for about one minute, which he thought was enough time for the jetway to be cleared from the airplane. He reported that he then removed the chalks, received clearance from the flight crew, and then commenced to push back the airplane. As a result of the impact with the jetway, the airplane received a 38 inch x 8.5 inch hole in the fuselage between Fuselage Station (FS) 490 and FS 528 and stringer S-17L and S-18L resulting in damage to frame assemblies and stringers in this area.

## Factual narrative

On June 16, 2011 at approximately 1758 pacific daylight time, United flight 818, a Boeing 757-200, registration N571UA, was substantially damaged during initial pushback from gate 73 at San Francisco International Airport (SFO), San Francisco, California. There were no injuries to the 188 passengers and crew onboard. The flight was a regularly scheduled domestic passenger flight from SFO to Chicago O'Hare International Airport, Chicago, Illinois. United representatives reported that normal passenger and crew boarding was accomplished using door 2L. The passenger loading bridge (PLB) operator stated she was in position at the loading bridge controls and was prepared to retract the bridge. She reported that the airplane door was closed and the loading bridge canopy was retracted. The PLB operator stated she was waiting for hand signal guidance from the ramp personnel to retract the bridge from the airplane. The PLB operator stated the signal to retract the bridge from the airplane was not received, however, the ramp personnel proceeded to push back the airplane. The ramp employee responsible for the airplane pushback reported that he heard the PLB bell ringing for about one minute, which he thought was enough time for the jetway to be cleared from the airplane. He reported that he then removed the chalks, received clearance from the flight crew, and then commenced to push back the airplane. As a result of the impact with the jetway, the airplane received a 38 inch x 8.5 inch hole in the fuselage between Fuselage Station (FS) 490 and FS 528 and stringer S-17L and S-18L resulting in damage to frame assemblies and stringers in this area.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N571UA (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: BOEING 757-222
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 26681
- Airframe hours: 61787
- Engines: P & W PW2040 40900 lbs thrust turbo jet; P & W PW2040 40900 lbs thrust turbo jet
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Part 121
- Operator: United Air Lines Inc
- Registered owner: United Air Lines Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport
- Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, May 25, 2011
- Departed: KSFO, San Fransico, CA
- Destination: KORD, Chicago, IL
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: KSFO, San Francisco International

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 54; injuries: none; commercial, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine sea, multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, unknown; last flight review February 1, 2011; seat: left; flight hours: 13,678 total, 2,949 in this make and model
- Co-pilot; age 46; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: powered-lift; medical: class 1, unknown; last flight review May 1, 2011; seat: right; flight hours: 4,907 total, 3,574 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 315° at 13 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 46 °F

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.

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