Maximum takeoff weight for an Airbus A320 is approximately 172,000 lbs. There are two main landing gear with 2 wheels each, and the nose gear, also two wheels, that takes a dramatically smaller percentage of the load of the aircraft. A flight from Bozeman, Montana to Atlanta, Georgia is well within the range of that aircraft, so it’s likely that the weight of the plane was less than the maximum. It still would have been very heavy, however, to have a flat tire on the main gear. The second tire on that side had to carry a disproportionate share of the load. That was at taxi speed, of perhaps 15 mph. It takes no imagination to understand that the stresses on the gear are dramatically higher at takeoff and landing speeds.
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Here is what happened. Our intended departure plane arrived at the airport in Bozeman. The passengers deplaned, the aircraft was refueled, then we were called for boarding, as they loaded our luggage. Once aboard, they closed the door, moved us all to ‘airplane mode,’ and began the taxi to the end of the runway. Then, the captain addressed us on the radio and said he was getting abnormally high temperature readings from the brake sensors, which he attributed to unusual side load stresses from strong crosswinds. Other aircraft apparently had to divert because the crosswinds exceeded their design limits. It was at the maximum limit for the Airbus.
The high temperature alerts subsided at the gate, but spiked again with the braking required to control taxi for takeoff. (Jet engines ALWAYS push!) He paused near the end of the runway, but was not satisfied with the readings, so announced we would return to the gate to have the gear examined by a professional. At the gate the mechanic determined the brakes (a series of disc brakes, actually) had partially melted from excessive heat. Repairing those was going to involve having replacement parts shipped in, along with a specialist mechanic to install them.
(I know the picture is not high resolution, I could not get close and only had a cellphone 'camera.' But the circular items to the right of the landing gear are the brake discs. They looked totally 'cooked.' We couldn't scrutinize the axle, but they believe it may have been structurally compromised, as well. I'm certain that would be an expensive maintenance 'issue,' as, indeed, it is all certain to have been.)
Our departure was scheduled for 2:12 pm on Saturday. The captain, who had flown the plane in from Atlanta, told us it was unlikely that he would be able to fly us to Atlanta, because of strict rules on pilot duty cycles. But he allowed us to deplane (with all our stuff), rather than be stuck on the plane for an indeterminate period of time. The departure time was rescheduled for 10:30 that night. At 10:30 a replacement crew had been brought in, but they announced that the excessive heat had essentially welded a wheel bearing to the axle. It was not going to be possible to leave that night, since the bearing could not be removed from the axle for replacement. They gave us vouchers to local hotels, with a new departure time of 9 am. We finally got to a hotel in Bozeman by midnight, checked in and in bed by 12:30.
Our shuttle back to the airport was at 7:30 am. We were confident about the timing because the replacement pilot and crew was taking the same shuttle from the same hotel. We got checked in and the flight did indeed depart about 9, but not on the original aircraft. Overnight they brought in a replacement Airbus to transport us. Mechanics had finally succeeded in removing the damaged bearing, but there were questions about the axle, and the original plane was out of service.
I had a couple of short conversations with the original captain. His communication with us was impeccable. He told us everything that was going on at every point in the process. Once back at the gate, he quickly decided a fix was not happening soon, so rather than keep us stuck on the plane (like horror stories most of us have heard about), he allowed us to disembark into a much more comfortable terminal, where they gave us drinks and snacks and ordered (a LOT of!) pizza.
Not only was his communication terrific, it was clear that the captain would not consider flying an airplane with a technical problem. It was just not going to happen. He was not going to ignore or discount the clear message the airplane was sending him. He was not going to compromise our safety.
I know a lot of people involved in safety scenarios. Thankfully, safety receives the prioritization it should, which is not to say that all accidents can be prevented. New kinds of accidents seem to happen. But there is a kind of accident that has a common denominator. Someone is in a situation in which they say, in evaluating relative risk: Aw, it’ll be alright.
Something has caught their attention, something out of the ordinary, something not quite right, not as it should be. And they decide it will be ‘alright,’ and continue.
This isn’t something unique to the business world, to the world of commerce. It occurs at least as often in private lives. People make safety choices with their homes, with their vehicles, with their bicycles (as I can attest!), with lawn equipment, with their children. They conclude it will be alright because the odds tell them it will be. Because it is a gamble they’ve taken many times without adverse consequence.
Yet, invariably, the time comes when it is NOT alright. When something bad, something foreseeable, DOES happen, against the odds or no. There is perhaps no greater red flag than the words, it will be alright.
Anytime we hear them, it alerts us that it is time to stop, and think more carefully about the situation.
Exactly as our exemplary captain did, Saturday evening.
My brother summed up my feelings, as well, saying he would much prefer to be stuck for the night in Bozeman, as opposed to CRASHING on time in Atlanta!
(I know it sounds melodramatic, but one tire flatted from the heat after taxiing about a mile at 15 mph. What kind of heat would have been generated at a typical takeoff speed approaching 150-160? What might have had with the second tire if it had been forced to support the weight of that aircraft at landing speeds? It is not a pleasant scenario! We’re thankful we did not have to face it. Even with the discomfort and inconvenience.)
May those responsible for your safety always make such high quality decisions! And may your travels always be safe!
On to tonight’s comments! Formatted by my dear friend brillig!
Brillig's ObDisclaimer: The decision to publish each nomination lies with the evening's Diarist and/or Comment Formatter. My evenings at the helm, I try reeeeallllyy hard to publish everything without regard to content. I really do, even when I disagree personally with any given nomination. "TopCommentness" lies in the eyes of the nominator and of you, the reader - I leave the decision to you. I do not publish self-nominations (ie your own comments) and if I ruled the world, we'd all build community, supporting and uplifting instead of tearing our fellow Kossacks down.
From blueoregon:
I'd like to nominate We Shall Overcome's comment in Jen Hayden's diary Lawsuit to challenge Missouri's 'debtors prison' because making the poor pay everyone's way isn't feasible, unless you're a repub and you don't care.
From Puddytat:
Both skepticalcitizen and ColoTim have the real meaning behind the Koch Brothers astroturf group Americans for Prosperity.
From indycam:
Nominating this one by elfling
From Wee Mama:
How religion is like alcohol, by ontheleftcoast
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5) I've long seen the political market opportunity by Dallasdoc — 75
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