CSN 676 – Fiberglass Boom May Fail – 2004-2005 Altec Aerial Devices

February 27, 2018 NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V138000

Fiberglass Boom May Fail

Failure of the fiberglass upper boom may increase the risk of injury or death.

 

NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V138

Manufacturer Altec Industries Inc.

Components EQUIPMENT

Potential Number of Units Affected 59

 

Summary

Altec Industries Inc. (Altec) is recalling certain 2004-2005 AM547, AM650, AM855 and AM862 Aerial Devices, and AM650 and AM855 Elevator vehicles. The fiberglass upper boom on these vehicles may degrade over time and fail.

 

Remedy

Altec will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the boom for degradation, and replace the boom if necessary, free of charge or buy back the chassis and unit. The recall began on April 30, 2018. Owners may contact Altec customer service at 1-877-462-5832. Altec’s number for this recall is CSN 676.

 

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

 

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IMPORTANT SAFETY RECALL

This notice applies to your vehicle. See attached serial number list.

NHTSA Safety Recall
No. 18V-138

April 23, 2018

Dear Altec Owner,

This notice is sent to you in accordance with the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act, and Canada Motor Vehicle Safety Act.

Altec Industries, Inc. has decided that a defect which relates to motor vehicle safety exists in certain AM650, AM855, and AM855/857 Elevator Units. These units have fiberglass upper booms that can possibly fail. The structural failure of the upper boom can result in death or serious injury.

Refer to CSN 676 for the items covered under the warranty policy. Altec will replace the upper boom at no charge to the customer or will make arrangements to repurchase the unit.

In order to determine if your unit is affected by CSN 676, compare the serial number of your unit with the list of affected units attached to the CSN. The inspection can be performed by the customer or you may contact Altec at 1-877-GO-ALTEC (1-877-462-5832) for further assistance. The inspection is expected to take two hours to complete.

At any time, you may contact Altec at 1-877 GO ALTEC (1-877-462-5832) with your unit’s serial number to determine if there are any other outstanding notices.

For US owners: after contacting Altec, if you are still not able to have the safety condition remedied within a reasonable time, you may write to: Administrator, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590 or call 1-888-327-4236 (TTY: 1-800424-9153) or  go to https://www.safercar.gov.

For Canadian Owners: if you are still not able to have the safety condition remedied by your dealer within a reasonable time, please contact Altec Customer Service at 1-877-GO-ALTEC (1-877-4625832).

If you had this repair performed before you received this letter, you may be eligible to receive reimbursement for the cost of obtaining a pre-notification remedy of the problem associated with this recall. If you have sold or retired the unit please call Altec at 1-877-GO-ALTEC (1-877-4625832) so the records may be changed.

If you have leased this equipment to another person or company, you are required by Federal Law to forward a copy of this notice to the lessee by first class mail within ten (10) days of the receipt of this notice.

We are sorry to cause this inconvenience; however we are taking this action in the interest of your safety and continued satisfaction with Altec products.

Thank you for your immediate attention on this important matter.

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Customer Service Notice

Date: April 23, 2018

Units Affected: AM650 and AM855 units built between serial numbers 1004BB3622 (October 2004) and  0205BB3710 (February  2005) AM855/857 Elevator units built between serial numbers 1004BS0230 (October 2004) and 0105BS0235 (January 2005)

Upper Boom Fiberglass Inspection

Altec is committed to providing our customers with safe and reliable products from initial delivery throughout the useful life of the machine.

Altec released CSN 654 in April of 2017 notifying customers of the need to inspect their unit for upper boom fiberglass damage. CSN 654 was based on field reports of cracks and structural failures of several late 2004 and early 2005 AM units. The cracks and failures have occurred at the upper boom steel to fiberglass joint in the over center position. Because of information obtained throughout CSN 654, Altec has decided it is necessary to remove from service a select group of units with upper booms that had a higher rate of failure. CSN 676 is being sent to explain the next steps for operating the affected unit until the upper boom can be replaced or the unit and vehicle can be purchased by Altec. Although these booms have been in service for over ten years, Altec is requiring all AM upper booms manufactured during this period be inspected for cracks and damage. Death or serious injury can occur from structural failure of the fiberglass boom.

Three actions must be completed for continued unit operation and to complete the required action on this CSN.

1. Inspection – the inspection must be completed within 30 days of receiving this CSN. Use the attached inspection procedure to evaluate the fiberglass boom for any one of the following conditions:
   • Internal or external cracks near the fiberglass to steel joint on the upper boom
   • Gelcoat that is loose, missing, or cracked near the fiberglass to steel joint
   • Excessive motion at fiberglass to steel joint
2. After completing the inspection – choose the action below based on the inspection results:
   • If any cracks or abnormalities are found, the unit must be taken out of service Contact Altec at 1-877-GO ALTEC (1-877-462-5832), prompt 4,  Technical Support, for further assistance.
   • If no cracks or abnormalities are found, continue to use the unit following thePreoperational Inspection from the Operator’s Manual. Additionally, perform the attached inspection procedure monthly until the upper boom is replaced or the unit is taken out of service by Altec through a purchase.
3. Contact Altec immediately after the inspection – contact Technical Support by calling 1-877-GO ALTEC (1-877-462-5832), prompt 4, to speak with an Altec representative about upper boom replacement or the purchase of the unit and vehicle by Altec.

For either action, provide Altec with the inspection results using the CSN 676 Inspection Sheet on Page 3. Scan and email or fax the results to the address on the form.

This visual inspection is covered under the Altec Warranty Policy and can be performed by Altec, the customer, or the customer’s warranty provider. Altec will perform the inspection for free.  If the customer, or the customer’s warranty provider performs the inspection , a warranty claim must be submitted to be reimbursed for the cost of the labor. Altec will allow up to $180 for the labor to perform this inspection. Call 1-877-GO ALTEC (1-877-462-5832) to schedule the work to be done by an Altec service technician. Customers are responsible for the travel costs of an Altec Mobile Service technician if the technician performs the inspection or repair at the owner’s location.

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2 Affected Products

Vehicle

ALTEC

AERIAL DEVICE

2004-2005

 

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6 Associated Documents

Defect Notice 573 Report

RCLRPT-18V138-2384.PDF 214.558KB

 

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Recall Acknowledgement

RCAK-18V138-6370.pdf 245.761KB

 

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ISSUED Owner Notification Letter(Part 577)

RCONL-18V138-3757.pdf 126.995KB

 

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Recall Quarterly Report #2, 2018-3

RCLQRT-18V138-5258.PDF 214.603KB

 

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Recall Quarterly Report #4, 2019-1

RCLQRT-18V138-1389.PDF 211.419KB

 

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Recall Quarterly Report #3, 2018-4

RCLQRT-18V138-4930.PDF 211.318KB

 

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Latest Recalls Documents

https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/acms/cs/documentList.xhtml?docId=18V138&docType=RCL

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