2004 Sutphen SPH 100 problems

What is wrong

Sutphen Corporation (Sutphen) is recalling certain model year 2000-2014 SPH 100, SP 110, SPI 112, SAI 110 aerial devices manufactured November 5, 2014. The main extension cable on the aerial ladders may fail.

Risk

A cable failure may cause the ladder to collapse in use, increasing the risk of injury to a user.

Remedy

Sutphen will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and repair or replace the ladders, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began in October 2014. Owners may contact Sutphen customer service at 1‑866‑287‑5549. Sutphen's number for this recall is NACIS# 336120.

Recall number 14V718000 · Recall details

What is wrong

Sutphen Corporation (Sutphen) is recalling certain model year 2003-2012 SPH 100, model year 2000-2004 SP 110, model year 2003-2011 SPI 112 and model year 2003-2011 SAI 110 fire apparatus. In the affected vehicles, the bearings used for the extension of the ladder may seize causing the extension cables passing over them to chafe and fail.

Risk

Failure of the extend/retract system can cause the aerial to unexpectedly retract. This movement could result in injuries to personnel on or around the vehicle.

Remedy

Sutphen has notified owners, and inspected all of the affected vehicles, repairing them as necessary, free of charge. The recall was completed on May 17, 2013. Owners may contact Sutphen at 1‑614‑889‑1005.

Recall number 13V565000 · Recall details

What is wrong

Sutphen has notified the federal safety agency about a defect in certain model year 2004 through 2010 sph model fire trucks manufactured between january 2004 and january 2010, equipped with series 60 detroit diesel or c-13 caterpillar engines. Pre 2007, the detroit diesel engines were mounted low in the frame which causes vibration in the driveline. Post 2007, a new suspension and frame design caused the driveline angles of the detroit diesel and caterpillar engines to be slightly out of alignment.

Risk

Vibration in the driveline can cause premature failure of the u-joints, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy

Sutphen will notify owners and repair the fire trucks free of charge. The safety recall began on march 8, 2010. Owners may contact sutphen at 1‑866‑287‑5549.

Recall number 10V071000 · Recall details

On May 22, 2013 the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened a Preliminary Evaluation investigation (PE13-017) on Sutphen SPH aerial ladder bucket equipped emergency vehicles for cable failures resulting in unintended bucket retraction.This investigation was closed November 19, 2013 when Sutphen submitted a safety recall 13V‑565.At the time of the recall, Sutphen believed the failures were a result of poor maintenance.Sutphen conducted a remedy program where they inspected all of the subject vehicles, repaired any damaged aerial ladder components and trained the owners on the proper maintenance of the equipment.Since the closing of PE13-017, ODI has been made aware (through media reports) of three post recall failures that resulted in 6 injuries.These failures occurred following the implementation of the 13V‑565 recall remedy on the subject vehicles.On August 6th, 2014 ODI opened this Recall Query (RQ14-003) on the same Sutphen Corporation SPH aerial ladder bucket equipped emergency vehicles based on the three additional aerial ladder bucket failures.On September 4th, 2014 an ODI investigator, Sutphen engineers, a Hall County technical representative and County Commissioner conducted an inspection of a failed subject vehicle in Atlanta, Georgia.The Fire truck and aerial device were impounded and secured in the maintenance shop where all parties were able to conduct an inspection of the failed components.The Hall county representatives extended the aerial ladder bucket for the ODI and Sutphen inspectors to take measurements and pictures.Also, the failed cables were laid out on the garage floor for inspection. On October 18th 2014, Sutphen purchased the subject fire truck from Hall County for additional analysis and later decided to conduct an additional Safety Recall.Sutphen determined the root cause of the unintended retraction of the aerial ladder bucked was a failure of the cables which extend and retract the ladder.Subsequently a field retrofit kit was developed, analyzed, and tested to ensure that in-service aerials could be restored to a safe operating configuration.This is accomplished by increasing both the size and strength of the cables and limiting the maximum hydraulic pressure in the extension system. This new modification kit will update the field units to meet Sutphen's standards and exceed NFPA requirements.This investigation is closed with safety recall 14V‑718.

RQ14003

This investigation was opened after ODI was notified by a fire rescue authority that they had multiple driveshaft failures on four of their fire trucks. Allegedly, one driveshaft was ejected from the truck as it was being driven on the highway at a high rate of speed. Sutphen conducted an engineering evaluation and then decided to conduct a safety recall.They will: a.modify the cross members on the pre-2007 vehicles; b.conduct driveshaft re-phasing on the post-2007 vehicles; and c.replace the frame cross members.The action taken by Sutphen resolves this investigation. Accordingly, this investigation is closed.

PE10002