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A line mechanic reports a B777 arrived with a total hydraulic quantity loss from the nose gear. Even though the center hydraulic system was empty; the captain authorized the tow crew to tow aircraft to gate without gear pins installed or inspection of aircraft to advise him of the nature of the hydraulic failure.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 917871 |
| Time | |
| Date | 201011 |
| Local Time Of Day | 0001-0600 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | ZZZZ.Airport |
| State Reference | FO |
| Environment | |
| Light | Night |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Make Model Name | B777 Undifferentiated or Other Model |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 121 |
| Flight Phase | Parked |
| Component | |
| Aircraft Component | Hydraulic Main System |
| Person 1 | |
| Function | Technician |
| Qualification | Maintenance Powerplant Maintenance Airframe |
| Experience | Maintenance Technician 35 |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical Deviation - Procedural Published Material / Policy |
Narrative:
While waiting for my aircraft [B777] to arrive; was advised it had an emergency so [I was] told to go to a predetermined gate to be driven with headset to aircraft by leader van. Normal procedure at ZZZZ. Arrived to wait at gate and saw aircraft surrounded by fire and police vehicles also airport safety vehicles. As I waited the tug arrived; connected and towed the aircraft to gate. I was amazed that the aircraft was towed with center hydraulic system empty and all contents on nose gear and underside of aircraft with no inspection by maintenance and no gear pins fitted (installed). I asked the tow team who authorized the towing and they said the captain. When I voiced my concerns to the captain he said it had been his decision to allow aircraft to be towed. I was shocked that he did this; as he had an emergency with one system with total hydraulic quantity loss from nose gear. No qualified persons where involved to advise him of nature of failure.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: A Line Mechanic reports a B777 arrived with a total hydraulic quantity loss from the nose gear. Even though the Center Hydraulic System was empty; the Captain authorized the tow crew to tow aircraft to gate without gear pins installed or inspection of aircraft to advise him of the nature of the hydraulic failure.
Narrative: While waiting for my aircraft [B777] to arrive; was advised it had an emergency so [I was] told to go to a predetermined gate to be driven with headset to aircraft by leader van. Normal procedure at ZZZZ. Arrived to wait at gate and saw aircraft surrounded by Fire and Police vehicles also Airport Safety vehicles. As I waited the Tug arrived; connected and towed the aircraft to gate. I was amazed that the aircraft was towed with Center Hydraulic System empty and all contents on nose gear and underside of aircraft with no inspection by Maintenance and NO gear pins fitted (installed). I asked the tow team who authorized the towing and they said the Captain. When I voiced my concerns to the Captain he said it had been his decision to allow aircraft to be towed. I was shocked that he did this; as he had an emergency with one system with total hydraulic quantity loss from nose gear. No qualified persons where involved to advise him of nature of failure.
Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of April 2012 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.