NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation
Preliminary Evaluation PE13-017: Aerial Fire Apparatus Cable Failure
- Closed
NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation opened Preliminary Evaluation PE13-017 on May 22, 2013 and closed it on November 19, 2013. NHTSA's investigations file lists the 2009 Sutphen SPH 100 for it and links recall 13V-565 to it.
Updated daily from NHTSA's investigations file
Key facts
- NHTSA number
- PE13-017 (also written PE13017)
- Investigation type
- Preliminary Evaluation The first stage of most defect investigations: NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation gathers basic information about a possible safety defect, including from the manufacturer.
- Status
- Closed November 19, 2013
- Opened
- Closed
- Vehicle or equipment manufacturer
- Sutphen Corporation
- Component
- Latches/Locks/Linkages
- Recall linked by NHTSA
- 13V-565: Aerial Fire Ladder May Retract, reported
- Vehicles and equipment
- 2009 Sutphen SPH 100
NHTSA's summary
As NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation wrote it for Preliminary Evaluation PE13-017.
On May 22, 2012 the Office of Defects Investigations (ODI) opened this Preliminary Evaluation (PE) to investigate an alleged failure of an aerial ladder bucket on a subject vehicle while in operation.
The failure occurred during a public relations event at a fire station while four civilians and one firefighter were being elevated in the aerial ladder bucket.
Once the ladder was fully extended at a 45 degree angle, the ladder component of the vehicle experienced a sudden and catastrophic failure. This resulted in the ladder retracting rapidly into its bedded position.
This sudden stoppage caused multiple injuries to all five of the occupants within the aerial ladder bucket.
Sutphen concluded that the main cables were worn. The bearings in the sheaves used in the extend/retract the system had seized and prevented the sheaves from rotating. The cables sliding over the non-moving sheaves resulted in excessive wear and reduced load carrying capacity.
Failure of the extend/retract system can result in either the aerial becoming inoperable or cause it to unexpectedly retract. This movement could result in damage to the vehicle and/or injuries to personnel on or around the vehicle.
Sutphen is conducting a voluntary Safety Recall (13V-565) to address the safety concerns with the aerial ladder.
As part of the remedy, Sutphen will inspect each vehicle for worn parts and will provide detailed instructions for vehicle owners on how to inspect and maintain the aerial ladder portion of the fire apparatus.
Vehicles and equipment listed for this investigation
NHTSA's investigations file lists these vehicles and equipment for Preliminary Evaluation PE13-017. A listed model year means only that an investigation names it; it says nothing about any particular vehicle. Model years with a try.vin recall page link to that page's NHTSA investigations section.
Sutphen
Sutphen SPH 100
What an NHTSA investigation is
NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) looks into possible safety defects in vehicles and equipment, often after owner complaints. An investigation usually starts as a Preliminary Evaluation, or as a Recall Query when it concerns whether an existing recall covers the right vehicles or fixes the problem, and ODI can upgrade it to a more detailed Engineering Analysis. A Defect Petition asks NHTSA to open an investigation, and Audit and Equipment Queries are administrative investigations into whether companies complied with federal vehicle safety requirements, such as reporting, recall and certification rules.
An open investigation is not a finding that a safety defect exists, and NHTSA can close one without a recall.
To see whether a specific vehicle has an open recall, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Free VIN check: decode a VIN to see its year, make and model.
Sources
NHTSA's investigation record for PE13-017
Investigation details come from NHTSA's investigations file, which try.vin imports once a day. The investigation types are described from the U.S. Department of Transportation Inspector General's May 2023 report on NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation, NHTSA's petition rules (49 CFR Parts 552 and 557) and NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation procedures. How try.vin reads NHTSA investigations.