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MEL for A320; DC10; and DC9 has conflict with instructions on broken wheel tie bolts; says remove and inspect then reinstall. Maintenance manual states to deflate first. This is an unserviceable wheel when a tie bolt is broken.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 665454 |
| Time | |
| Date | 200501 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | airport : zzz.airport |
| State Reference | US |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Operator | common carrier : air carrier |
| Make Model Name | Commercial Fixed Wing |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 121 |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | company : air carrier |
| Function | maintenance : technician |
| Qualification | technician : powerplant technician : airframe |
| Experience | maintenance technician : 16 |
| ASRS Report | 665454 |
| Person 2 | |
| Affiliation | other |
| Function | maintenance : technician |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | aircraft equipment problem : critical maintenance problem : improper maintenance maintenance problem : improper documentation non adherence : published procedure non adherence : far |
| Independent Detector | other other : 1 |
| Resolutory Action | none taken : detected after the fact |
| Consequence | other other |
| Factors | |
| Maintenance | contributing factor : schedule pressure performance deficiency : installation performance deficiency : non compliance with legal requirements performance deficiency : inspection performance deficiency : unqualified personnel performance deficiency : scheduled maintenance |
| Supplementary | |
| Problem Areas | Company Aircraft Chart Or Publication Maintenance Human Performance |
| Primary Problem | Company |
Narrative:
There is a direct contradiction between maintenance manual and MEL book. MEL book says to remove wheel (with broken tie bolt) and inspect then reinstall. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: reporter stated maintenance manual directs that the tire be deflated before removal. Reporter also discussed contract maintenance wheel and tire assembly problems. Technicians reported finding broken; loose; and missing wheel tie bolts on wheels built up by a contract maintenance facility. The cause was reported to be improper torquing of the wheel tie bolts but other factors may be involved such as reuse of worn bolts.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: MEL FOR A320; DC10; AND DC9 HAS CONFLICT WITH INSTRUCTIONS ON BROKEN WHEEL TIE BOLTS; SAYS REMOVE AND INSPECT THEN REINSTALL. MAINT MANUAL STATES TO DEFLATE FIRST. THIS IS AN UNSERVICEABLE WHEEL WHEN A TIE BOLT IS BROKEN.
Narrative: THERE IS A DIRECT CONTRADICTION BETWEEN MAINT MANUAL AND MEL BOOK. MEL BOOK SAYS TO REMOVE WHEEL (WITH BROKEN TIE BOLT) AND INSPECT THEN REINSTALL. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: RPTR STATED MAINT MANUAL DIRECTS THAT THE TIRE BE DEFLATED BEFORE REMOVAL. RPTR ALSO DISCUSSED CONTRACT MAINT WHEEL AND TIRE ASSEMBLY PROBS. TECHNICIANS RPTED FINDING BROKEN; LOOSE; AND MISSING WHEEL TIE BOLTS ON WHEELS BUILT UP BY A CONTRACT MAINT FACILITY. THE CAUSE WAS RPTED TO BE IMPROPER TORQUING OF THE WHEEL TIE BOLTS BUT OTHER FACTORS MAY BE INVOLVED SUCH AS REUSE OF WORN BOLTS.
Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.