On May 4, 1990, a Beech A36 (registration N6060N) operated by Fellowship Homes was involved in an aviation accident near Hahira, GA. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: THE FAILURE OF THE RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR TIRE ON LANDING THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO DETECT AN EXISTING CUT ON THE RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR TIRE DURING PREFLIGHT. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
During a short field landing on a turf runway, the aircraft touched down in soft sand, veered right, and slid, causing the landing gear to collapse. A pre-existing cut in the right main tire sidewall led to tire failure.
Landing Sequence
The pilot configured the aircraft for a short field landing to a turf runway. The touchdown occurred at 70 knots. Upon contacting the ground, the aircraft touched down in soft sand and immediately veered to the right, initiating a slide. The slide resulted in the collapse of the landing gear.
Post-Accident Examination
Ground scars documented at the accident site indicated that the veer to the right coincided with rim marks in the sand. Inspection of the right main tire revealed that a cut existed prior to the accident. The cut was located in the area of the tire sidewall, which subsequently failed.
Tire Condition
The pre-existing cut in the right main tire sidewall was identified as the point of failure. The rim marks in the sand suggested that the tire deflated or separated during the landing roll, contributing to the loss of directional control.