AN ACR MLG CREW GOT THEIR NOSEWHEEL OFF ONTO THE GRASS WHILE TRYING TO MAKE A TIGHT TURN IN THE MIDST OF A LOT OF CONSTRUCTION.

Date: 1993-02 · Aircraft: Medium Large Transport; Low Wing; 2 Turbojet Eng

Anomalies: other-runway-or-taxiway-excursion|other-unspecified

Synopsis

AN ACR MLG CREW GOT THEIR NOSEWHEEL OFF ONTO THE GRASS WHILE TRYING TO MAKE A TIGHT TURN IN THE MIDST OF A LOT OF CONSTRUCTION.

Narrative

IN HOUSTON; IAH ARPT; AFTER LNDG RWY 26 WHILE TAXIING TO GATE X; USING NA; NN AND IAB RAMP (BECAUSE OF MANY TXWY CLOSURES); OPS CHANGED OUR GATE TO Y ON OPPOSITE SIDE OF CONCOURSE. GND CTL APPROVED A U-TURN AT THE INTXN OF NA AND NN AS THEY HAD ANOTHER ACFT COMING ACROSS THE E BRIDGE. WE HAD TO STOP AWAITING THAT INSTRUCTION AND THEN BEGAN A L U-TURN (SINGLE ENG AS USUAL; L ENG RUNNING). IT WAS A LITTLE TOO TIGHT FOR THE TURN AFTER LOSING OUR MOMENTUM STOPPING. WHEN I FELT I STILL HAD AT LEAST 2 OR 3 FT OF SPACE TO THE EDGE; THE NOSEWHEEL WENT ONTO THE GRASS. WE STOPPED AT THAT POINT AND CALLED FOR A TOW TO PULL OUR NOSEWHEEL BACK OVER ONTO PAVEMENT. I KEPT THE NOSEWHEEL COCKED TO THE SIDE SO THE TOW BAR COULD BE ATTACHED AT A R ANGLE TO THE TXWY WHICH WAS DONE VERY EASILY. TRACTOR DID NOT HAVE TO LEAVE THE TXWY. NOSE WAS PULLED OVER A FEW FT TO THE SIDE; MAINT INSPECTED AND SAID WAS FINE; PIN WAS INSTALLED; TOW BAR DISCONNECTED AND WE TAXIED TO OUR NEW GATE. LOGBOOK ENTRY WAS MADE; MAINT INSPECTION COMPLETED AND SIGNED OFF. ALMOST CONSTANT RECONSTRUCTION HAS CAUSED MANY TXWY CLOSURES AT IAH MAKING NAV AROUND THE ARPT DIFFICULT. (THERE WERE 6 OR 7 CLOSURES THIS NIGHT!) HOW ABOUT DOING 1 OR 2 AT A TIME AND GETTING SOME QUALITY CONCRETE TO ENSURE A SMOOTH FUTURE!

Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.