On March 27, 2001, a Grumman G-164B (registration N6552K) was involved in an aviation accident near Dyer, TN. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll, which was caused by a flat right front tire resulting from an inner tube being pinched during maintenance installation. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
A pilot lost directional control during landing roll after exiting the aircraft to find a flat right front tire, which was caused by a tube pinched during maintenance.
What happened
During the landing roll, the pilot experienced a sudden loss of directional control. As the airplane continued down the runway, it pitched nose down. After the aircraft came to a stop, the pilot exited the plane and inspected the damage. The inspection revealed that the right front tire was flat.
The investigation
A more detailed examination of the flat tire uncovered the root cause of the failure. Mechanics found that the inner tube had been pinched by company maintenance personnel during the installation process. This mechanical error compromised the tire's integrity, leading to the blowout and subsequent loss of control.
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll, which was caused by a flat right front tire resulting from an inner tube being pinched during maintenance installation.