Accident Overview
On February 23, 2016, at approximately 1810 mountain standard time, a Cessna LC41-550FG (registration N10580) experienced a right main tire failure during landing at Grand Junction Regional Airport (GJT) in Grand Junction, Colorado. The airplane was registered to and operated by Grand Junction Aircraft Sales, Inc., and was being flown under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a test flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a Visual Flight Rules flight plan had been filed. The local flight had originated from GJT at about 1745.
Flight History
The pilot reported that the landing touchdown was smooth. Shortly thereafter, the airplane suddenly veered to the right. Despite the application of opposite braking, the yaw could not be corrected. The airplane subsequently struck a taxiway sign at A-3 and collided with a ditch. Post-accident examination revealed that the right main tire had blown out. The airplane had just received an annual inspection, and no anomalies were noted.
Post-Accident Examination
Examination of the aircraft identified three damage areas on the right wing lower skin. One area included a puncture in the skin and access door, with damage to the outer face sheet and core. Another area showed scraping of the lower wing skin, with damage to the paint and outer face sheet. A third area featured a longer scrape with a puncture at the aft end, where the paint, outer face sheet, and core were damaged. The damage was described as affecting the structural strength of the one-piece composite wing and would require a major repair.
Tire Examination
Photographs of the failed tire were sent to Goodyear Tire Company and Desser Tire Company for comment. According to Goodyear's Senior Product Support Manager, the tire appeared to be an R3 (retread level 3). He stated that Goodyear does not retread tires for Cessna aircraft. A spokesman for Desser Tire Company reported that "the tire looks beat up, but intact. The area [Desser] works on is on the upper shoulder and tread which, from the picture, looks to be intact." No determination of the cause of the tire failure was made, as the owner had discarded the tire, preventing further examination.