2016 PIERCE ARROW XT — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data

The center portion of the tire tread is separating from the tire bed. The tire was mounted on a 2016 Pierce aerial fire truck in the left rear inner position .The discrepancy was found on a pre trip inspection for a test drive. We have consulted with a tire consultant ( Tennent, Winkelman and Associates) and believe that the rubber components are not fully cured. The rubber of the tread bed is of a soft and semi sticky constancy when physically touched. There where no warning lights as to the discrepancy, tire pressure at time of discovery was 110 psi. This was the only tire on this piece of equipment to have any discrepancy. Tire model M870 size 315/80R22.5 load range L. The tire is available for inspection by appointment.

While working at the scene of a residential structure fire, the Pierce aerial ladder was extended with three firefighters on the platform conducting ventilation operations. During the operation fire conditions rapidly changed engulfing the platform in fire. A crew member on the platform engaged the control pulling it down to raise the aerial device and the aerial slammed into roof of the residential structure, the aerial device lowering instead of raising. This increased the intensity of the fire and created warning alarms to go off on the CommandZone screen including collision avoidance and temperature warning. A firefighter on the turntable seeing what was happening raised the aerial device utilizing the controls on the turntable. Fearing for their lives, one firefighter jumped off the platform to an adjoining roof and the other two firefighter descended down the aerial ladder. Two firefighters received 1st degree burns and one firefighter received 2nd degree burns to his scalp. The platform of the aerial device sustained significant heat damage as depicted in the attached photos. This vehicle was part of NHSTA recall 19V-022, Pierce’s recall number is 74B295. Pierce states the recall was completed on this vehicle on April 4, 2019. At this time we are waiting on Pierce Manufacturing to provide further direction on repairs.

UNIT WAS BEING USED BY THE "AERIAL APPARATUS OPERATOR CLASS" AT THE ACADEMY. INSTRUCTOR STATED THAT THE LADDER WAS BEING OPERATED FROM THE BUCKET WHILE SLIGHTLY EXTENDED AND AT APPROXIMATELY A 35 DEGREE ANGLE. INSTRUCTOR STATED THAT THE LADDER WAS BEING ROTATED TO THE RIGHT AND WHEN THE ROTATION CONTROL WAS RELEASED, THE LADDER CONTINUED TO ROTATE RIGHT ABOUT 20-30 FEET AFTER THE CONTROL WAS RELEASED. INSTRUCTOR SAID THAT THE ROTATION SEEMED TO BUMP UP TO FULL SPEED WHEN THIS OCCURRED. INSTRUCTOR SAID THAT AT THE TIME THE LADDER STOPPED MOVING BY ITSELF, HE WAS JIGGLING THE ROTATION CONTROL TO SEE IF IT WAS STUCK, BUT WAS NOT CERTAIN THAT THIS IS WHAT BROUGHT THE LADDER TO A STOP. INSTRUCTOR ATTEMPTED TO RECREATE THIS BUT WAS UNABLE TO. TRUCK HAD BEEN RUNNING FOR ABOUT 1 1/2 HOURS WHEN THIS OCCURRED. THE ROTATION CONTROL WAS THE ONLY CONTROL BEING OPERATED AT THE TIME THIS HAPPENED.

VEHICLE PARKED, JACKING SYSTEM DOWN AS REQUIRED FOR AERIAL OPERATION, AERIAL BEING OPERATED FROM THE PLATFORM BUCKET, MADE AN UNCONTROLLED MOVEMENT TO THE RIGHT AFTER BEING ROTATED LEFT, THEN BEING EXTENDED. AERIAL MADE AN ABRUPT ROTATION TO THE RIGHT UNCONTROLLED AND STRUCK A FLAGPOLE. ## VIN PASSED ## PIERCE ARROW XT 2016 100' AERIAL PLATFORM ##

DURING A DRIVERS TRAINING TEST THE AERIAL WAS BEING EXTENDED IN SLOW MODE, WITH OUT WARNING THE AERIAL SWUNG 30 FEET TO THE RIGHT AT FAST RATE OF SPEED. DURING THE EVENT NO CONTACT WAS MADE WITH THE RIGHT/LEFT ROTATION CONTROL. THE AERIAL WAS TAKEN OUT OF SERVICE AS A SAFETY CONCERN. AFTER EXTENSIVE TESTING AT CMF, THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED AND UNIT WAS RETURNED TO SERVICE.