What happened
On 20 September 2005, a BAe HS125 Series 700, registration EI-WJN, was performing a passenger flight from Shannon Airport to Prestwick Airport. Upon touching down on Runway 31, the crew experienced a sharp pull to the left. To maintain directional control, the pilot was required to apply significant right rudder and right braking.
During the landing roll, both tyres on the left main landing gear burst. Despite the failure, the pilot successfully kept the aircraft on the runway and steered it off the active surface at the last high-speed turnoff, eventually coming to a stop on Taxiway Kilo. There were no injuries to the two crew members or the four passengers on board. Following the incident, the Airport Fire Service inspected the aircraft and confirmed there was no fire, though damage was noted to the left landing gear. Runway 31 was temporarily closed to clear debris.
The investigation
Investigators examined the left main landing gear and found that the No 1 tyre had been almost entirely destroyed, leaving only the beads and fragments of the sidewalls. The damage to the No 1 wheel rim suggested that after the tyre burst, the outer rim had acted as the primary rolling surface. The investigation also noted a failure in the linkage that retains the landing gear door, which appeared to be a secondary result of the tyre burst.
Technical examinations of the brake units were conducted by the manufacturer. While several minor technical discrepancies were identified, none were found to be capable of causing the brakes to lock or explaining the initial tyre failure. The investigation also noted that the aircraft had a historical tendency toward higher brake wear on the left side, though the left brakes had been replaced and tested the previous day.
Findings
- The destruction of the No 1 tyre was consistent with the outer rim of the wheel serving as a rolling surface after the tyre had failed.
- The damage to the No 2 tyre was consistent with a failure to spin up at touchdown, potentially caused by residual brake pressure preventing the anti-skid system from functioning correctly.
- Inadvertent application of braking on the left side at touchdown is considered the likely cause of the tyre failures, potentially exacerbated by a slight left bank of the aircraft following the initial burst.