Narrative:

On may/tue/04 at the beginning of my shift, most of our assigned aircraft had not arrived due to WX delays across the system. I volunteered to change a main landing gear tire on aircraft X as I had ample time before my assigned aircraft was to arrive. I then collected all the maintenance manuals, required equipment and proceeded to the gate. I then commenced to change the #4 aft tire as it was worn. During what appeared to be a routine task the wheel spacer remained attached to the inboard side of wheel bearing of the tire that was being removed. I would say in retrospect, that due to my lack of experience with the fleet type, that I should have asked for assistance from a fellow mechanic, as I noticed nothing out of the ordinary while applying either the initial or final torque.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A B767-300 WAS DISPATCHED IN NON COMPLIANCE WITH #4 REAR WHEEL AND TIRE ASSEMBLY REPLACED BUT THE WHEEL SPACER WAS NOT INSTALLED. CAUSED WHEEL BEARING FAILURE.

Narrative: ON MAY/TUE/04 AT THE BEGINNING OF MY SHIFT, MOST OF OUR ASSIGNED ACFT HAD NOT ARRIVED DUE TO WX DELAYS ACROSS THE SYS. I VOLUNTEERED TO CHANGE A MAIN LNDG GEAR TIRE ON ACFT X AS I HAD AMPLE TIME BEFORE MY ASSIGNED ACFT WAS TO ARRIVE. I THEN COLLECTED ALL THE MAINT MANUALS, REQUIRED EQUIP AND PROCEEDED TO THE GATE. I THEN COMMENCED TO CHANGE THE #4 AFT TIRE AS IT WAS WORN. DURING WHAT APPEARED TO BE A ROUTINE TASK THE WHEEL SPACER REMAINED ATTACHED TO THE INBOARD SIDE OF WHEEL BEARING OF THE TIRE THAT WAS BEING REMOVED. I WOULD SAY IN RETROSPECT, THAT DUE TO MY LACK OF EXPERIENCE WITH THE FLEET TYPE, THAT I SHOULD HAVE ASKED FOR ASSISTANCE FROM A FELLOW MECH, AS I NOTICED NOTHING OUT OF THE ORDINARY WHILE APPLYING EITHER THE INITIAL OR FINAL TORQUE.

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.