-----Original Message----- From: Williams, Richard S. (HQ-QA000)
Sent: Tuesday, February 01, 2011 7:36 AM
To: Bill Harrelson
Subject: RE: [LML] Re: Dresser tire problem

Bill,

Thanks for posting this - I need to get on the LML and do this myself. Please feel free to include my private email address cj6wms@gmail.com with any follow on postings so folks can correspond directly with me.

In follow up, the tire was not impacting anything during rotation or retraction except the pavement.  We examined the gear retraction on that side very carefully with the aircraft on jacks just last month, with this tire mounted.  Also, there are multiple cracks oriented in different directions, not just in the direction of rotation.  Some of them form a "Y", as matter of fact.  I am in contact with Dresser, and will send the tire back for analysis.

Interestingly, I replaced the main gear retract cylinder on that side last month because of a hydraulic leak.  Hydraulic fluid did get on the brake assembly during flight, and probably on the tire as well.  That problem was solved within a week of first showing itself - but that was the only anomaly with the right main gear assembly since I put the suspect tire on last month.  I would not expect contact with hydraulic fluid to adversely affect a tire and make it subject to this sort of phenomenon.

I think it's safest to consider this is a potential materials or manufacturing issue until proven otherwise, and visually inspect similar tires in the fleet to make sure there are no occurrences in other aircraft.

Best,

Rich