Narrative:

During approach check flow, PNF inadvertently selected 'maximum' autobrake instead of requested 'lo' setting. This was later confirmed by large transport captain riding on jumpseat. PNF read approach and then landing check and failed to note error. Jumpseat rider noticed 'maximum' brake selection, but thought it may be normal since he was unfamiliar with this large transport. He must not have heard checklist challenge and response of 'low' reference brake selection. On touchdown, left main inboard landing gear tire blew. PNF selected autobrakes off as soon as he noticed maximum braking in effect. A 'brakes system 1 fault' simultaneously occurred, probably because of the failure. Left outboard main tire fuse plugs let go short of gate. Maintenance pulled aircraft to gate for normal deplaning after determining there was no fire hazard. Due to excessive wheel temperature possibly changing strut temperature, maintenance suspects landing gear assembly change is required. Right main wheel temperatures were high but not excessive.. Due to close proximity and identical operation of autobrake push button switches, suggest installing clear plastic guard over maximum brake push button. This would require a conscious additional effort to arm it and still allow visual confirmation of its status.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN ACR LGT CREW SELECTED 'MAX' AUTOBRAKES INSTEAD OF 'LO' OR 'MED.' SEVERAL TIRES AND WHEELS WERE RUINED.

Narrative: DURING APCH CHK FLOW, PNF INADVERTENTLY SELECTED 'MAX' AUTOBRAKE INSTEAD OF REQUESTED 'LO' SETTING. THIS WAS LATER CONFIRMED BY LGT CAPT RIDING ON JUMPSEAT. PNF READ APCH AND THEN LNDG CHK AND FAILED TO NOTE ERROR. JUMPSEAT RIDER NOTICED 'MAX' BRAKE SELECTION, BUT THOUGHT IT MAY BE NORMAL SINCE HE WAS UNFAMILIAR WITH THIS LGT. HE MUST NOT HAVE HEARD CHKLIST CHALLENGE AND RESPONSE OF 'LOW' REF BRAKE SELECTION. ON TOUCHDOWN, L MAIN INBOARD LNDG GEAR TIRE BLEW. PNF SELECTED AUTOBRAKES OFF AS SOON AS HE NOTICED MAX BRAKING IN EFFECT. A 'BRAKES SYS 1 FAULT' SIMULTANEOUSLY OCCURRED, PROBABLY BECAUSE OF THE FAILURE. L OUTBOARD MAIN TIRE FUSE PLUGS LET GO SHORT OF GATE. MAINT PULLED ACFT TO GATE FOR NORMAL DEPLANING AFTER DETERMINING THERE WAS NO FIRE HAZARD. DUE TO EXCESSIVE WHEEL TEMP POSSIBLY CHANGING STRUT TEMP, MAINT SUSPECTS LNDG GEAR ASSEMBLY CHANGE IS REQUIRED. R MAIN WHEEL TEMPS WERE HIGH BUT NOT EXCESSIVE.. DUE TO CLOSE PROX AND IDENTICAL OP OF AUTOBRAKE PUSH BUTTON SWITCHES, SUGGEST INSTALLING CLEAR PLASTIC GUARD OVER MAX BRAKE PUSH BUTTON. THIS WOULD REQUIRE A CONSCIOUS ADDITIONAL EFFORT TO ARM IT AND STILL ALLOW VISUAL CONFIRMATION OF ITS STATUS.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 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.