Electronic Memorandum

To: Administrators and Managers of School Bus Operations
From: Division of School Traffic Safety and Emergency Planning
Re: Important information on 1995 and older Carpenter buses - all types, A,B,C, and D
Date: Monday, April 21, 2003 3:55 PM

As you may be aware there have been recent news releases regarding 1995 and older Carpenter buses manufactured in Mitchell, IN. Below is an excerpt from the School Bus Information Council.  The initial press release is available through the Council at http://www.schoolbusinfo.org/press.htm#sbic. This information is based on a recent crash in Florida where the school bus that rolled over, causing the roof to collapse down to the seat level. Fortunately, there were no children aboard at the time of the crash. Subsequent inspection of the bus discovered failure of a large percentage of structural welds in the roof structure.

At this time we would like to strongly encourage you to visually inspect any school bus(1995 and older)manufactured by Carpenter Manufacturing  to determine if there are structural weld failures in the roof structure. The welds in question are located at the junction of the vertical side posts (between the windows) and the horizontal structural member (the “Carlin” rail) above the windows. The inspection will require the removal of interior panels.

At first the defective welds were thought to be only on Type C and D school buses.  However, all bus types manufactured at the Mitchell facility utilized the same roof design and construction, thus Type A and B school buses should be inspected too.

The division is in communication with the Indiana State Police. If you have any questions please send return email or telephone the division at 317-232-0890.
 

Carpenter School Bus Problem More Widespread Than Originally Thought

Since sending out a notice on April 14, 2003 about a potential for cracked or broken welds in the roof structure of Carpenter Type "C" and "D" school buses built at its Mitchell, Indiana, plant between 1986 and 1995, more important facts have developed. Accordingly, the following additional information is provided:

1. Inspection of Carpenter school buses in various parts of the country has revealed cracked and broken welds in the roof structure. The problem is clearly not confined to Florida where it was first found.

2. Inspection of some Type "B" Carpenter school buses has revealed cracked and broken welds in the roof structure.

3. ALL Carpenter school buses built at the manufacturing facility in Mitchell, IN used the same roof design.

4. Each Carpenter school bus includes a 6-digit body number that appears on the Carpenter body data plate. If that 6-digit body number starts with the number 4, then the bus was built in the Richmond, Indiana, plant and utilizes full-length body bows. This design does NOT need to be inspected.

5. Based on the above information, the School Bus Information Council believes it would be prudent for states and local school districts to inspect the welds in the roof structure of all Carpenter school buses (Type "A," "B," "C," and "D") that were manufactured in Mitchell, IN, from 1986 to approximately late 1995.

6. If the 6-digit body number that appears on the Carpenter body data plate starts with any number other than the number 4, then the bus was manufactured in Mitchell, IN, and should be included in the inspection.