Tire failure during landing rollout at Grand Rapids

Casualties unknown • Lowell, MI, US

A tire blowout occurred during the landing rollout of an aircraft at Grand Rapids, resulting in the aircraft exiting the runway.

What happened

During the landing rollout at Grand Rapids (GRR), the pilot transitioned the right wheel onto the grass in an attempt to utilize increased drag for deceleration. The pilot reported applying full braking power once the right wheel reached the grass, intending to avoid excessive pressure on the tire while on the unpaved surface. Approximately 35 feet from the end of the runway, the left tire experienced a blowout. At the time of the failure, the aircraft had slowed to 20 mph. Following the blowout, the aircraft traveled 15 feet beyond the end of the runway before coming to a complete stop.

Findings

The pilot noted that the wind conditions encountered during the landing were different from those reported on the Automated Terminal Information Service (ATIS) at GRR. The pilot suggested that a better evaluation of these wind conditions might have prevented the incident.

Probable cause

The pilot's decision to apply full braking power while transitioning onto the grass surface, combined with inaccurate assessment of wind conditions compared to ATIS reports.

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Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 2002-07-07 Piper PA-34 accident near Lowell, MI?

A tire blowout occurred during the landing rollout of an aircraft at Grand Rapids, resulting in the aircraft exiting the runway.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 2002-07-07 involved a Piper PA-34, registration N52WP, operated by Stt Inc., at Lowell, MI.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The pilot's decision to apply full braking power while transitioning onto the grass surface, combined with inaccurate assessment of wind conditions compared to ATIS reports.

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20020715X01130. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.

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