On December 21, 2000, a Mitsubishi MU-2B-60 (registration N130MS) operated by Prima Group Traders, Inc. was involved in an aviation accident near Aspen, CO. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's improper landing technique, which resulted in a hard touchdown with the aircraft in a crabbed attitude, causing the right main landing gear tire to blow out. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
A hard touchdown during a visual approach from an IFR cross-country flight caused a tire blowout and significant damage to the right landing gear and fuselage.
What happened
The aircraft was operating under instrument flight rules for a cross-country trip. As the flight neared its destination, the pilot transitioned to a visual approach for landing. The touchdown occurred with excessive force, and the aircraft was not aligned properly with the runway centerline at impact.
The investigation
Examination of the wreckage revealed that the right main landing gear tire failed upon contact with the runway surface. This failure led to substantial damage to the right main landing gear assembly and its associated brake system. Debris from the destroyed tire penetrated the right side of the fuselage wall. Additionally, the right propeller sustained damage during the incident.
Findings
The primary factors contributing to this accident were the hard touchdown and the crabbed attitude of the aircraft at impact. These conditions exceeded the structural limits of the landing gear components, leading to the catastrophic failure of the tire and subsequent fuselage penetration.
Probable cause
The pilot's improper landing technique, which resulted in a hard touchdown with the aircraft in a crabbed attitude, causing the right main landing gear tire to blow out.