UPON LNDG AT ORD; A B727 HAS 2 TIRES FAIL. RPTR INDICATES IT IS BECAUSE HE USED ANTI-SKID WHICH FAILED. ACR POLICY IS NOT TO USE ANTI-SKID.
Synopsis
UPON LNDG AT ORD; A B727 HAS 2 TIRES FAIL. RPTR INDICATES IT IS BECAUSE HE USED ANTI-SKID WHICH FAILED. ACR POLICY IS NOT TO USE ANTI-SKID.
Narrative
ON DEC XX 1996 AT KK52Z; WHILE SERVING AS FLYING PIC OF ACR FLT SFO-ORD; UPON TOUCHDOWN THE #1 AND #3 MAIN LNDG TIRES FAILED. THE ACFT HAD BEEN VECTORED IN ICING CONDITIONS TO AN ILS RWY 14L APCH. THE CREW WAS BRIEFED ON THE APCH; TURNOFF AND PARKING; TO INCLUDE ARMING THE AUTOBRAKES IN ACCORDANCE WITH COMPANY ACFT OPERATING MANUAL PAGE WHICH IS A REPRINT OF THE BOEING ACFT MANUAL. THE WX CONDITION AS ADVERTISED ON THE ORD ATIS WAS MEASURED CEILING 800 FT BROKEN; VISIBILITY 1 SM RESTR BY BLOWING SNOW; SURFACE TEMP 32 DEGS F WITH WIND 140 DEGS AT 12 KTS. 'BRAKING ACTION ADVISORIES IN EFFECT.' ATC WAS ADVISED; FLT TAXIED TO RAMP WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT. DECISION MAKING PROCESS OF ARMING AUTOBRAKES CRITICIZED BY CHIEF PLT; DIRECTOR OF OPS; AND OWNER PER CHIEF PLT. CHIEF PLT RELAYED THAT YOU SHOULDN'T USE A PROC THAT NO ONE ELSE USES. I COUNTERED; THAT IS WHAT I LEARNED AT A MAJOR AIRLINE THAT HE AND I HAD BOTH WORKED FOR. HE ADVISED ME THAT OUR MAINT PROGRAM IS SUBSTANDARD AND THAT I SHOULD HAVE ANTICIPATED A SYS FAILURE. I WAS DIRECTED TO WRITE A STATEMENT JUSTIFYING MY ACTIONS. THAT BEING COMPLETED; I AWAIT FURTHER RESPONSE. THIS IS ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF SAFETY BEING COMPROMISED FOR BOTTOM LINE FINANCIAL REASONS. IT IS A BALANCING ACT OF SAFETY AND PROFITS. IT HAS BEEN MY EXPERIENCE AT NUMEROUS SUPPLEMENTAL ACRS THAT SAFETY IS THE ONE BEING SACRIFICED. I BELIEVE THE FAA AND DOT OWE THE PUBLIC; AND THOSE OF US TASKED WITH FLYING LESS THAN PROPERLY MAINTAIN ACFT; THE RESPECT TO GO AND SERIOUSLY DETERMINE IF THESE CARRIERS ARE FIT TO OPERATE AS A BUSINESS.
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Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.