RPTR; A MECH AT A MAINT FACILITY FOR AN ACR; RPTS OF HIS INSTALLATION OF L WHEEL INCORRECTLY ON LTT ACFT.
Synopsis
RPTR; A MECH AT A MAINT FACILITY FOR AN ACR; RPTS OF HIS INSTALLATION OF L WHEEL INCORRECTLY ON LTT ACFT.
Narrative
THE PROBLEM AROSE WHEN I INSTALLED A L HAND MAIN WHEEL INCORRECTLY; WHICH WAS DISCOVERED BY THE PLTS OF THAT FLT WHEN THEY NOTICED A GRABBING IN THE BRAKING SYS OF THE L MAIN LNDG GEAR. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS WERE PROBABLY UNFAMILIARITY WITH THIS ACFT AND THE HRS IN WHICH I WORK XA30 TO XB00. CORRECTIVE ACTION ON OCCURRENCE WAS SIMPLY TO REMOVE AND REINSTALL TIRE CORRECTLY. ANOTHER FACTOR WHICH WOULD BE THE BIGGEST IS THAT THE DESIGN ON THE TIRE AND BRAKE ASSEMBLY IS THAT IT CAN; WITHOUT NOTICE; BE INSTALLED INCORRECTLY VERY EASILY. IN MY JUDGEMENT I HAD PERFORMED THE MAINT TASK CORRECTLY AND IN A PROFESSIONAL MANNER. MY JUDGEMENT WAS NOT OTHERWISE AND MY ACTIONS TO THE BEST OF MY KNOWLEDGE WERE JUST. IN ALL; WE ARE SOMEWHAT OVERWORKED DUE TO POOR PLANNING AND SCHEDULING BY OUR PLANNING DEPT; AND THIS IN EFFECT PUT TOO LARGE A LOAD ON US AS MAINT PERSONNEL. WE ARE UNDERSTAFFED WITH OUR LOAD OF MAINT IN MY OPINION. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: RPTR STATED THAT THE WHEEL ASSEMBLY COULD VERY EASILY BE PLACED ON THE BRAKE ASSEMBLY WITHOUT THE BRAKE PADS FITTING INTO THE CORRECT GROOVES ON THE LINING ON THE WHEEL. THE ONLY REF AVAILABLE TO RPTR WHEN DOING THIS OP WAS A CARD THAT; TO HIM; WAS QUITE VAGUE IN ITS INTERPRETATION. HE HAD ONLY BEEN AT THIS FACILITY FOR 1 MONTH; BEING RECENTLY HIRED FROM THE SVC. THE FLC CAUGHT THIS ERROR 1 WK AFTER THE INSTALLATION. RPTR WAS LAID OFF FOR 2 WKS WITHOUT PAY AND THE FAA DID NOT PURSUE ANY FURTHER PENALTIES. SINCE THIS EVENT; WHICH HAD OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE; THE COMPANY HAS GRADUATED THAT CARD TO A FULL FLEDGED BULLETIN WITH MORE COMPLETE PARAMETERS. THE FACILITY HAS JUST BEEN BOUGHT OUT BY A NEW OWNER AND THEY FORECAST THAT IN A FEW MONTHS THAT THEY WILL HIRE MORE PERSONNEL. RPTR FAILED TO GRIEVE HIS PENALTIES AND THE IMPROPER MAINT CARD AS HE WAS NEW AND WAS BTWN A ROCK AND A HARD PLACE.
Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.