B777 flight crew reported a tire pressure EICAS message on takeoff. The flight crew elected to request priority handling and dump fuel. An air turn back and precautionary landing were them performed.
Synopsis
B777 flight crew reported a tire pressure EICAS message on takeoff. The flight crew elected to request priority handling and dump fuel. An air turn back and precautionary landing were them performed.
Narrative
Just after takeoff; raised landing gear; climbing through 800 AGL; tire pressure-EICAS (engine indicating and crew alerting system) message illuminated XA:23Z. Checked gear status and noted number 6 wheel tire pressure AMBER 84 PSI and decreasing 40 PSI then 1 PSI. Adjacent wheel 5 AMBER 245 PSI. Continued climb out as planned. Climbing through 10;000 feet MSL cleared by ATC to maintain 270 Knots. Continued as planned on course to ZZZ. After climbing through FL 180 notified Purser not to commence inflight service. Leveled off at FL330. Completed non normal unannunciated checklist procedure for tire pressure -tire fail checklist. Then ZZZZZ Dispatch approaching ZZZ; discussed options; continue or ZZZ1. At this point brought Purser into the loop and I made the decision to ZZZ1. Purser returned to cabin to brief crew and run precautionary landing check list I made a preparatory brief to passengers. ZZZZZ Dispatch to confirm plan to ZZZ1. Dispatch calculated our fuel dump and return fuel for landing. Notified ATC of our intentions to dump fuel and request priority handling and return to ZZZ1. ATC turned us south and away from weather. At XB:22Z we began to dump 65;500 pounds of fuel; IAH 090/80nm FL330. Fuel dump time 27 minutes. ATC gave us a turn to the west and descent to FL300. Fuel dump complete XB:50Z FL300 100nm southeast of ZZZ. Confirmed priority with ATC XB:55Z. Center cleared us direct ZZZ1. Descent arrival and approach to Runway 36R normal planned landing with 30 flaps no auto brakes as per checklist to land below max landing weight. Slight yaw to left as main landing gear contact the runway as expected with a flat tire; stopped on runway; inspected by ZZZ1 ARFF (airport rescue and firefighting); confirmed wheel six tire flat no other complicating issues in progress; then cleared the runway. ZZZ1 ARFF remained with the aircraft until we were towed to gate. In congruence with ZZZ1 ARFF terminated priority handling with ZZZ1 Tower at XD:35Z.We were reluctant to dump the fuel and actually considered in the ZZZZZ three way with Dispatch and maintenance to continue on to MAD. However; when including Purser into the loop; who has actually first hand knowledge with vision of the physical condition of the passengers we were carrying- first thing Purser asked? No problem with this aircraft getting into alternate for a medical divert? Our ALTNs were OK but not great. Decision was made there to ZZZ1. Then later in this event as we were just about to terminate the fuel dump. Received a message from maintenance to Dispatch to us that 'Company aircraft maintain real time computer shows tires pressures fine just bad aircraft sensor all good you can relax. Bad info. And last of great concern; brought to my attention by Purser; our flight was knowing Dispatched without a FA language speaker. Very interesting flight; great crew; time permitting; I really feel its important to bring Purser into the loop onto flight deck if the situations time constraints allow."
Second reporter narrative
Departing ZZZ Runway 35L. Once airborne at approximately 800 feet we had a tire pressure alert. Checked gear synopsis page and wheel number 6 was amber and 80 psi and decreasing to finally stop at 1 psi. After 10;000 feet we requested 270 knots; gear speed and continued on flight plan while we discussed the problem. Leveled off at FL330 and completed applicable check lists. Contacted Dispatch and discussed tire press issue and options. We discussed the options: to ZZZ1 or continue. Then CA asked Purser to come to the flight deck to discuss her concerns. We had concerns about continuing to ZZZ2 with diversion options with a flat tire and Purser was concerned with diversion for passenger medical priority. We discussed how would need to request priority handling no matter where we landed. We also discussed fatigue being a factor if we brought the priority to ZZZ2 vs landing ZZZ without the fatigue factor. We all agreed that ZZZ was the safest option for dealing with the flat tire on landing. We requested priority handling with ZZZ3 ATC and advised we needed to jettison fuel. We were then given vectors over the Gulf of Mexico where we began fuel jettison procedures at FL330. Once fuel jettison was complete and weight was below max landing weight we were given vectors back to ZZZ. We requested ARFF (airport rescue and firefighting) on arrival at ZZZ. Approach and landing was uneventful. ARFF informed us that we did have a flat but intact tire and requested left engine to be shut down for closer inspection. ARFF gave us all clear and CA taxied clear of runway. We requested a tow in from that point to gate. Once at the gate; the priority handling was terminated and PAX and crew deplaned normally. I was the relief pilot on this trip. The CA did a great job of asking for our input as well as the Pursers input. We discussed pros and cons of continuing to ZZZ2. We all agreed that landing at ZZZ was the safest option for passenger; crew; and aircraft. The first officer did a great job flying the aircraft while the CA and I made radio calls; spoke to flight attendants and passengers. It would be good to know why the tire went flat.
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Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.