On June 30, 1992, a Cessna 180 (registration N2362C) operated by Arthur W. Utay was involved in an aviation accident near Glendale, AZ. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's loss of directional control following a left main gear tire blowout caused by dry rot of the inner tube valve stem. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
Aircraft experienced a ground loop after touchdown due to a left main gear tire blowout, which the pilot attributed to loss of directional control.
What happened
The aircraft executed a landing and subsequently ground-looped upon touchdown. The pilot reported that the left main landing gear tire suffered a sudden blowout during the roll-out phase. This failure resulted in an immediate loss of directional control, causing the aircraft to deviate from the runway centerline.
The investigation
Examination of the failed component revealed that the tube valve stem on the left wheel had fractured at its base. The root cause of this structural failure was identified as dry rot within the rubber material. Further inquiry into the maintenance history indicated that the inner tube had accumulated approximately 1,200 hours of service since it was new. Notably, the aircraft had undergone an annual inspection just seven hours and one month prior to the accident, yet the degraded condition of the tube was not addressed.
Probable cause
The pilot's loss of directional control following a left main gear tire blowout caused by dry rot of the inner tube valve stem.