The pilot reported that, during the takeoff roll at the airport in Monroe, N.C., the Piper PA-46-500TP’s right main landing gear tire failed.
He aborted the takeoff, and the plane departed the right side of the runway.
The ground around the runway edge was uneven due to airfield construction, and the wings bounced as the plane departed the runway, which resulted in substantial damage to the right aileron.
The right main tire was found failed at the accident site. The left main tire pressure was measured with a tire gauge, and it registered 40 pounds per square inch (psi); 55 psi was required by the manufacturer.
The nose tire was also underinflated. The damage to the right tire and inner tube were consistent with underinflation during operation.
The NTSB determined the probable cause as the pilot’s operation of the airplane with underinflated tires, which resulted in the right tire’s failure during takeoff and a subsequent runway excursion.
NTSB Identification: ERA14LA071
This November 2013 accident report is provided by the National Transportation Safety Board. Published as an educational tool, it is intended to help pilots learn from the misfortunes of others.
This is a serious problem that most pilots are not aware of. Tire pressures will decrease 1 psi with a temperature decrease of 5 degrees F. Check the tire pressures in the Fall, when the daytime temps drop.
I flew from a central valley airport, with a summer temp in CA of 100 deg, to a coastal airport where the temp was 50 degrees. Our mains went from 23 psi to 18 psi…seriously under-inflated for our near-gross weight. During our taxi to the runway the right main went flat, due to the collapsed sidewall pinching the tube and the tire went flat. We got towed off the taxiway and had the tube replaced.
BUT !, what if we had gotten airborne and tried to land with a flat right main…?
So, the note to pilots – check the pressures. Don’t just look at the tires and think they’re ok..
JimH, I agree that tire pressure checks are a critical pre-flight item. I carry a tire pressure gage and use it. Every year I find FBO and other (non-owned) aircraft that have severely under inflated tires. For example, last spring my calibrated guage registered 20 lbs tire pressure on the mains of a C182 (recommended is 42 lbs).