An EMB140 was dispatched with the nose tire and wheel assemblies installed backwards.

Attributes
ACN	663794
Time
Date	200507
Place
Locale Reference	airport : zzz.airport
State Reference	US
Altitude	agl single value : 0
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	EMB ERJ 140 ER&LR
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	maintenance : technician
ASRS Report	663794
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	maintenance : technician
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical maintenance problem : improper maintenance maintenance problem : improper documentation non adherence : far non adherence : published procedure
Independent Detector	other other : 2
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Consequence	other other
Factors
Maintenance	contributing factor : lighting contributing factor : schedule pressure performance deficiency : inspection performance deficiency : installation performance deficiency : non compliance with legal requirements performance deficiency : logbook entry
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Maintenance Human Performance Aircraft Chart Or Publication Environmental Factor
Primary Problem	Maintenance Human Performance

Narrative:

Nosewheel tires installed backwards. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: the reporter stated the design of the nose gear axle is straight and not tapered so the inner and outer bearings of the wheel are also identical. The wheels rptedly fit perfectly correctly; or incorrectly with only two discrepancies. One; air inflation valve would be located next to the strut and inaccessible to service the tires or check inflation pressure. The second indication is that the water spray chine would be located next to the strut and on wet runways could not deflect the water spray from the engine inlets. Embraer 135; 140; and 145 equipment rptedly has the same nose gear axle.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN EMB140 WAS DISPATCHED WITH THE NOSE TIRE AND WHEEL ASSEMBLIES INSTALLED BACKWARDS.

Narrative: NOSEWHEEL TIRES INSTALLED BACKWARDS. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: THE RPTR STATED THE DESIGN OF THE NOSE GEAR AXLE IS STRAIGHT AND NOT TAPERED SO THE INNER AND OUTER BEARINGS OF THE WHEEL ARE ALSO IDENTICAL. THE WHEELS RPTEDLY FIT PERFECTLY CORRECTLY; OR INCORRECTLY WITH ONLY TWO DISCREPANCIES. ONE; AIR INFLATION VALVE WOULD BE LOCATED NEXT TO THE STRUT AND INACCESSIBLE TO SVC THE TIRES OR CHK INFLATION PRESSURE. THE SECOND INDICATION IS THAT THE WATER SPRAY CHINE WOULD BE LOCATED NEXT TO THE STRUT AND ON WET RWYS COULD NOT DEFLECT THE WATER SPRAY FROM THE ENG INLETS. EMBRAER 135; 140; AND 145 EQUIP RPTEDLY HAS THE SAME NOSE GEAR AXLE.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 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.