What happened
A certificated commercial pilot and three passengers were landing at a Coast Guard station to begin work. The aircraft was utilizing an asphalt runway measuring 4,500 feet in length. During the landing roll, the left main tire suddenly deflated, causing the airplane to undergo a ground loop. The incident resulted in damage to the left wing, the left aileron, and the left horizontal stabilizer.
The investigation
An inspection of the left main tire was conducted following the accident. Investigators found that the tire had rotated independently from the wheel rim along the tire bead. This movement damaged the tire tube valve stem, which led to the deflation of the tire. The aircraft had been equipped with large tundra tires that utilized larger than standard wheel adapters.