Event Description
During the takeoff roll of a flight, the tread of the right nose landing gear tire separated. This tread separation caused damage to the ground shift mechanism, nose gear door, taxi light, and the EE compartment door. The flight subsequently returned to the departure airport. Upon landing, with the anti-skid system activated, no braking action was available. The aircraft was brought to a stop using reverse thrust.
Findings
An investigation into the incident revealed that the damaged shift mechanism produced a faulty signal to the anti-skid system. This faulty signal caused the brake system to enter an "airborne" mode, preventing normal braking action during the landing roll.
Examination of the tire showed that a liner repair had been stitched into place over a cut region. There was evidence that the cut resulted from a puncture. Reference document AC145-4, "Inspection, Retread Repair, and Alterations of Aircraft Tires," generally recommends against any attempt to repair cuts that extend through more than 40% of the ply. It specifically states that tires with punctures are non-repairable.
Maintenance Issues
The improper repair of the tire, involving stitching a liner over a puncture, likely contributed to the tread separation. The resulting damage to the shift mechanism led to the anti-skid system malfunction, compromising braking performance.