FLT CREW INFORMED OF A CUT NOSEWHEEL TIRE.

Narrative

IN PREPARATION FOR PUSHBACK; A RAMP AGENT DISCOVERED A CUT IN THE L NOSE TIRE APPROX 6 INCHES LONG; RUNNING PARALLEL TO THE GROOVES ALONG THE TREAD SURFACE. HE BROUGHT THIS TO THE ATTN OF OUR FO WHO NOTIFIED MAINT AND INITIATED A WRITE-UP IN THE MAINT LOG. WHEN I ARRIVED; MAINT WAS INSPECTING THE TIRE. THEY CLAIMED THAT SINCE NO CORD WAS SHOWING THE TIRE WAS SUITABLE FOR REVENUE SVC. THEY TOLD ME IF I HAD A PROB WITH IT THEY WOULD BE GLAD TO CALL THEIR MAINT SUPVR TO DISCUSS IT WITH ME. I TOLD THEM I WOULD LIKE TO TALK TO HIM. THE NEXT THING I KNEW I WAS TOLD TO CONTACT THE CHIEF PLT. THE MAINT SUPVR NEVER SHOWED UP; AND WHEN I CALLED THE CHIEF PLT HE TOLD ME THAT I WOULD FLY THE FLT. I THOUGHT THIS WAS NOT ONLY UNNECESSARY BUT ALSO NOT THE SAFEST COURSE OF ACTION. THE CUT IN THIS TIRE WAS DEEP AND LONG. YOU COULD PUT YOUR FINGERNAIL INTO THE CUT AND LIFT THE TREAD. WHEN WE DID ARRIVE AT DEST; THE CAPT TAKING THE FLT AGAIN WROTE THIS TIRE UP. BY CHANCE THE NEXT MORNING THE MECH WHO PREPARED AND WARMED THE ACFT UP FOR THE FIRST FLT OF THE DAY WAS THE SAME ONE WHO WAS CALLED OUT THE DAY BEFORE WHEN THE CAPT RECEIVING OUR PLANE WROTE UP THE TIRE. HE TOLD ME HE REFUSED TO SIGN OFF THE TIRE EVEN THOUGH NO CORD WAS SHOWING BECAUSE THE TIRE WAS 'DELAMINATING.' I WAS SURPRISED AND PERPLEXED WHEN HE TOLD ME HOW FERVENTLY OUR MAINT DEPT TRIED TO PERSUADE HIM TO SIGN IT OFF. ULTIMATELY THE TIRE WAS CHANGED. AM I NOT THE FINAL AUTH WHEN IT COMES TO THE SAFE OP OF A FLT FOR WHICH I AM CALLED THE PIC? DON'T I HAVE TO AGREE WITH MAINT THAT THE ACFT IS SAFE TO FLY? AND IF A TIRE IS LEGAL FOR DISPATCH BUT TO MY REASONABLE PERSON COULD BE EXPECTED TO BE OUT OF LIMITS UPON THE VERY NEXT LNDG; IS IT NOT PRUDENT TO GO AHEAD AND CHANGE IT? THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I HAVE EVER BEEN ORDERED TO FLY WHEN I FELT THERE WAS A QUESTION ABOUT THE SAFETY OF MY PLANE. MAYBE I SHOULD HAVE DISOBEYED A DIRECT ORDER FROM MY BOSS.