Incident Details
A scheduled commuter flight was boarded with passengers and a crew consisting of three flight attendants, a first officer, and a captain for a flight to Pittsburg, PA. After gate release, the aircraft taxied to runway 29R and prepared for takeoff. The takeoff roll progressed normally until approximately 4,200 feet from initiation, at which point the crew reported a vibration and noted that the left engine power diminished. The takeoff was aborted, but the aircraft speed at the time of abort and the remaining runway distance were insufficient to avoid departing the end of the runway. The aircraft became mired in rain-soaked terrain up to the axle.
Investigation Findings
Post-incident examination of the left main gear tires indicated a failure of the tire carcass. The tires had been retreaded 300 and 244 landings prior to the failure. However, the carcass had no records to show an operational or replacement history. The reason for the failure of the carcass was not determined. The cause of the initial power loss on the left engine was ingestion of tire debris.