An A319 had the right nosewheel and tire assembly replaced and was dispatched with the inner axle bu...

Attributes
ACN	676672
Time
Date	200508
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : zzz.airport
State Reference	US
Altitude	agl single value : 0
Environment
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	A319
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	ground : maintenance
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	maintenance : technician
Qualification	technician : powerplant technician : airframe
Experience	maintenance technician : 13
ASRS Report	676672
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	oversight : supervisor
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical maintenance problem : improper documentation maintenance problem : improper maintenance non adherence : published procedure non adherence : far
Independent Detector	other other : 3
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	other other
Factors
Maintenance	contributing factor : lighting performance deficiency : inspection performance deficiency : installation performance deficiency : logbook entry performance deficiency : non compliance with legal requirements
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Maintenance Human Performance Environmental Factor Aircraft Chart Or Publication
Primary Problem	Maintenance Human Performance

Narrative:

On returning to work on nov/thu/05 from days off; was informed by management of a possible missed step on a right nosewheel replacement. On oct/wed/05; ZZZ1 maintenance replaced the right nosewheel assembly (for normal wear). During this time they reported the inner axle bushing missing. Quality assurance department researched and found that I changed the wheel assembly previously on aug/fri/05 in ZZZ. As I can't recall the exact episode precisely; I can say that I did change the tire in question and believe I did it correctly per the maintenance manual. If the inner bushing was missing on aug/fri/05; it would be difficult to safety axle nut to axle; and I don't recall this to be the case. According to the company; there was no axle damage and the bushing was replaced. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: the reporter stated the bushing slides inside the axle and has 8 holes that any 2 align with the axle holes and the axle nut safety bolt holes. The axle lock bolts are inserted through the axle nut; the axle and axle bushing and lock nuts are installed and torqued. This locks the axle nut to the axle. The bushing takes the place of washers for the axle lock bolts and limits the movement of the axle lock bolts.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN A319 HAD THE R NOSEWHEEL AND TIRE ASSEMBLY REPLACED AND WAS DISPATCHED WITH THE INNER AXLE BUSHING NOT INSTALLED. ACFT OPERATED IN EXCESS OF 2 MONTHS BEFORE DISCREPANCY DISCOVERED.

Narrative: ON RETURNING TO WORK ON NOV/THU/05 FROM DAYS OFF; WAS INFORMED BY MGMNT OF A POSSIBLE MISSED STEP ON A R NOSEWHEEL REPLACEMENT. ON OCT/WED/05; ZZZ1 MAINT REPLACED THE R NOSEWHEEL ASSEMBLY (FOR NORMAL WEAR). DURING THIS TIME THEY RPTED THE INNER AXLE BUSHING MISSING. QUALITY ASSURANCE DEPT RESEARCHED AND FOUND THAT I CHANGED THE WHEEL ASSEMBLY PREVIOUSLY ON AUG/FRI/05 IN ZZZ. AS I CAN'T RECALL THE EXACT EPISODE PRECISELY; I CAN SAY THAT I DID CHANGE THE TIRE IN QUESTION AND BELIEVE I DID IT CORRECTLY PER THE MAINT MANUAL. IF THE INNER BUSHING WAS MISSING ON AUG/FRI/05; IT WOULD BE DIFFICULT TO SAFETY AXLE NUT TO AXLE; AND I DON'T RECALL THIS TO BE THE CASE. ACCORDING TO THE COMPANY; THERE WAS NO AXLE DAMAGE AND THE BUSHING WAS REPLACED. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: THE RPTR STATED THE BUSHING SLIDES INSIDE THE AXLE AND HAS 8 HOLES THAT ANY 2 ALIGN WITH THE AXLE HOLES AND THE AXLE NUT SAFETY BOLT HOLES. THE AXLE LOCK BOLTS ARE INSERTED THROUGH THE AXLE NUT; THE AXLE AND AXLE BUSHING AND LOCK NUTS ARE INSTALLED AND TORQUED. THIS LOCKS THE AXLE NUT TO THE AXLE. THE BUSHING TAKES THE PLACE OF WASHERS FOR THE AXLE LOCK BOLTS AND LIMITS THE MOVEMENT OF THE AXLE LOCK 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.

An A319 had the right nosewheel and tire assembly replaced and was dispatched with the inner axle bushing not installed. Aircraft operated in excess of 2 months before discrepancy discovered.