What happened
On July 16, 2006, at 14:24 UTC, a Boeing 747-200F, registration N516MC, was performing a takeoff from runway 36L at Amsterdam/Schiphol Airport (EHAM). During the takeoff roll, the tires on the left main body gear burst. Following the failure, the aircraft returned to the airport and landed on runway 06. The 3 crew members were not injured during the event.
The investigation
The investigation revealed that the tire burst resulted in damage to the flap system, which caused a flap asymmetry and subsequent roll movement of the aircraft. Additionally, fragments from the wheel and tire struck the fuselage, causing minor damage to the airframe.