NHTSA Investigation PE09038

WHEEL CHAIR DOOR BECOMES UNLATCHED

THIS INVESTIGATION WAS PROMPTED BY A REVIEW OF SERVICE BULLETINS PROVIDED BYMCI TO THE AGENCY. MCI SUBMITTED A FIELD CHANGE PROGRAM BULLETIN IN THEIR JULY 2009 MONTHLY COMMUNICATIONS (49 CFR 597.5) SUBMISSION REGARDING A WHEELCHAIR LIFT INTERLOCK DOOR RETROFIT KIT FOR G4500 SERIES COACHES.PER THE BULLETIN, THE SLIDING WHEELCHAIR DOOR MAY BECOME UNLATCHED, THE VISUAL WARNING INDICATOR IN THE DRIVER'S AREA MAY GO UNNOTICED BY THE DRIVER AND THERE IS NO AUDIBLE WARNING.DURING THE REVIEW PROCESS, ODI LEARNED OF ACOMPLAINT FROM AN INDIVIDUAL WHOSE GROUP CHARTERED A G4500 MOTORCOACH AND REPORTEDLY THE WHEELCHAIR ACCESS DOOR ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE BUS OPENED WHILE THE BUS WAS TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 55 MPH.THE INVESTIGATION WAS OPENED TO ASSESS THE SCOPE AND SAFETY CONSEQUENCE OF THIS ISSUE.IN SEPTEMBER 2009, MCI FILED A SAFETY RECALL (09V-345) OUTLINING THEIR INTENDED REMEDY PROGRAM TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE. MCI WILL ADD AN AUDIBLE ALARM TO ALERT THE DRIVER THAT THE DOOR IS NOT FULLY LATCHED. THEY ALSO INTEND TO REINFORCE THE UPPER DOOR LATCH TO IMPROVE LATCHING SYSTEM DURABILITY.THE ACTION TAKEN BY MCI RESOLVES THE ISSUES RAISED BY THIS INVESTIGATION. ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.

An investigation is a separate record from a recall and from a manufacturer communication. A manufacturer campaign to repair a safety defect or a failure to meet a federal safety standard.