Accident McDonnell Douglas DC-10-30F N302FE,

ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 323557

Date:	Wednesday 1 March 2000
Time:	03:47
Type:	McDonnell Douglas DC-10-30F
Owner/operator:	FedEx
Registration:	N302FE
MSN:	46801/103
Year of manufacture:	1973
Total airframe hrs:	64258 hours
Engine model:	General Electric CF6-50C2
Fatalities:	Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 5
Aircraft damage:	Substantial, repaired
Category:	Accident
Location:	Newark International Airport, NJ (EWR) - United States of America
Phase:	Pushback / towing
Nature:	Cargo
Departure airport:	Newark International Airport, NJ (EWR/KEWR)
Destination airport:	Memphis International Airport, TN (MEM/KMEM)
Investigating agency:	NTSB
Confidence Rating:	Accident investigation report completed and information captured

Narrative:
A McDonnell Douglas DC-10-30F, N302FE, operated by Federal Express, was substantially damaged during pushback at Newark International Airport (EWR), New Jersey.
The airplane was taxiing to the runway for departure when the APU door light illuminated. The airplane returned to the loading dock, the engines were shut down, the APU door was closed, and the APU was secured. The airplane's engines were then restarted at the dock, and the airplane began another pushback. During that pushback, it contacted the loading dock, and suffered an 8-foot gash along the left side, below the cockpit area.

PROBABLE CAUSE: "The tug operator's inadequate visual lookout."

Accident investigation: