Narrative:

I was assigned to work trip X. The aircraft arrived with a PIREP stating 'significant nosewheel shimmy/vibration on landing above 70 KTS.' after reading the item; and discussing it with my partner; we pulled up the fault identify manual 'nosewheel vibrates on takeoff/landing.' at time we were told to just change the nosewheel; without going through the fault identify manual by our supervisor. I told him that I did not agree with his decision; and that something else may be the problem. He insisted to just change the tire; without looking for the actual problem. Instead of just changing the nose tires; I performed the steps in the fault identify manual. After the inspection and replacement of the nose tires; I told my supervisor that the aircraft needed to be taxied at least 70 KTS; as the PIREP stated. He then called maintenance control and they decided that a check taxi was not necessary before putting passenger on the plane. I refused to sign the item #15 because I felt a taxi was necessary to see if the condition was fixed by changing the nose tires. The aircraft left the gate without a check ride with passenger on board. Regardless of notifying maintenance control; I feel this is an unsafe practice. A&P mechanics who work items should be the only ones signing them off. Unsafe aircraft should not leave the gate.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A B767 ARRIVED WITH RPT OF NOSEWHEEL SHIMMY ABOVE 70 KTS. TECHNICIANS REPLACED NOSE TIRE AND WHEEL ASSEMBLIES. SUPVR WOULD NOT ALLOW TAXI TEST.

Narrative: I WAS ASSIGNED TO WORK TRIP X. THE ACFT ARRIVED WITH A PIREP STATING 'SIGNIFICANT NOSEWHEEL SHIMMY/VIBRATION ON LNDG ABOVE 70 KTS.' AFTER READING THE ITEM; AND DISCUSSING IT WITH MY PARTNER; WE PULLED UP THE FAULT IDENT MANUAL 'NOSEWHEEL VIBRATES ON TKOF/LNDG.' AT TIME WE WERE TOLD TO JUST CHANGE THE NOSEWHEEL; WITHOUT GOING THROUGH THE FAULT IDENT MANUAL BY OUR SUPVR. I TOLD HIM THAT I DID NOT AGREE WITH HIS DECISION; AND THAT SOMETHING ELSE MAY BE THE PROB. HE INSISTED TO JUST CHANGE THE TIRE; WITHOUT LOOKING FOR THE ACTUAL PROB. INSTEAD OF JUST CHANGING THE NOSE TIRES; I PERFORMED THE STEPS IN THE FAULT IDENT MANUAL. AFTER THE INSPECTION AND REPLACEMENT OF THE NOSE TIRES; I TOLD MY SUPVR THAT THE ACFT NEEDED TO BE TAXIED AT LEAST 70 KTS; AS THE PIREP STATED. HE THEN CALLED MAINT CTL AND THEY DECIDED THAT A CHK TAXI WAS NOT NECESSARY BEFORE PUTTING PAX ON THE PLANE. I REFUSED TO SIGN THE ITEM #15 BECAUSE I FELT A TAXI WAS NECESSARY TO SEE IF THE CONDITION WAS FIXED BY CHANGING THE NOSE TIRES. THE ACFT LEFT THE GATE WITHOUT A CHK RIDE WITH PAX ON BOARD. REGARDLESS OF NOTIFYING MAINT CTL; I FEEL THIS IS AN UNSAFE PRACTICE. A&P MECHS WHO WORK ITEMS SHOULD BE THE ONLY ONES SIGNING THEM OFF. UNSAFE ACFT SHOULD NOT LEAVE THE GATE.

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.