OSHA Accident Investigation · Summary #14456016
WHEEL,EXPLOSION,INFLATING,MULTIPIECE RIM WHEEL
Event description
MULTIPIECE WHEEL RIM ON AIRCRAFT LANDING GEAR EXPLODED
Investigation abstract
EMPLOYEE #1 WAS INFLATING AN UNDERINFLATED NOSE GEAR TIRE ON A LOCKHEED JETSTAR, ED, SIX WERE 30-70 INCH LBS UNDER TORQUED. THE PROPER TORQUE IS 100-120 INCH LBS . THE WHEEL WAS A B.F. GOODRICH TYPE VII, SERIES #693, MANUFACTURED JANUARY 1967 . THE STATIC LOAD WAS 3,300 POUNDS. THE TIRE PRESSURE WAS 220 POUNDS. IT ALSO AP PEARED FROM A FRAGMENT THAT THERE MAY HAVE BEEN A HAIRLINE CRACK IN THE WHEEL PR IOR TO THE MISHAP. USING COMPRESSED NITROGEN GAS. HE HEARD A HISSING NOISE. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, TH E WHEEL EXPLODED, SENDING WHEEL FRAGMENTS FLYING INTO EMPLOYEE #1 WHO WAS STANDI NG DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF THE WHEEL. IT APPEARS THAT THE O RING INSIDE THE TWO PIE CE ALUMINUM ALLOY WHEEL WAS DEFECTIVE, ALLOWING NITROGEN TO LEAK INTO THE WHEEL. PRESSURE BUILT UP INSIDE THE WHEEL, CAUSING IT TO EXPLODE. THE WEIGHT OF THE AI RCRAFT WAS ON THE TIRES AT THE TIME OF THE MISHAP. THE WHEEL IS COMPOSED OF TWO PARTS HELD TOGETHER BY EIGHT TNRV BOLTS. THE TORQUE ON THE BOLTS WAS CHECKED ON THE UNDAMAGED NOSE GEAR WHEEL (DUAL). THREE BOLTS WERE 30-50 INCH LBS OVER TORQU
Victim
-
#1 Hospitalized Age 45 M
- Nature of injury
- 12
- Part of body
- 19
- Event type
- 1
- Source
- 2
- Occupation code
- 508
- Human factor
- 10
- Environmental factor
- 5
- Task assigned
- 1
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