What happened
On 1 July 2022, an Emirates Airbus A300-842, registration A6-EVK, was operating a commercial flight from Dubai to Brisbane. While cruising at flight level 310, the flight crew heard a loud bang, followed immediately by an ECAM alert indicating zero pressure in the body landing gear wheel 17.
Following established procedures for suspected tire damage, the crew continued the flight to the destination. Upon landing at Brisbane International Airport, a post-flight inspection revealed that a piece of the tire had detached during the burst and struck the aircraft's belly. This impact caused a structural access panel (197ET) in the upper belly fairing area to fracture and a portion of the panel to be lost. There were no injuries to the 529 persons on board.
The investigation
The UAE Air Accident Investigation Sector (AAIS) examined the tire, the damaged fairing, and the manufacturing history of the components. Investigators analyzed the internal structure of the involved Michelin tire using X-ray tomography and electron microscope scanning.
Technical analysis focused on the carcass ply layers of the tire. The investigation reviewed the maintenance records of A6-EVK and the production logs from the tire manufacturer. The investigation also assessed the flight crew's decision-making process regarding the decision to continue to Brisbane rather than diverting to an intermediate airport.