Safety Recommendation
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau recommends that BF
Goodrich Aerospace formalise instructions to operators and
maintenance organisations for the periodic inspection, based upon
BFG SL 1714, of all Boeing 727 main landing gear wheels that have
undergone a hub bushing repair.
Information received during discussions with engineering staff
from the Wheel and Brake System Division of Goodrich Aerospace
indicated that while the company accepted the intent of ATSB safety
recommendation R20050005, it was not planning to implement any
formal changes to guidance materials provided to operators and
maintenance organisations, in respect to the application of BFG SL
1714. Supporting this position, Goodrich Aerospace indicated that
although the sleeve-type wheel repair was relatively common, the
cracking failure as sustained during the subject occurrence was
considered rare, with an estimated total of 20-30 occurrences known
world-wide over the life of the product. Additionally, there have
been no known instances of wheel failure occurring at a time where
the failure presented a direct threat to operational safety. All
previously known failures had been detected during walk-around or
maintenance inspection routines. As such, Goodrich Aerospace
considered that the specification of an additional maintenance
practice, with appreciable implementation costs, was not warranted
in the context of achieving a definitive enhancement to existing
levels of safety. The application of BFG SL 1714 remains at the
discretion of operators and maintenance organisations, based on
service experience and local policy and procedures.
