What happened
On 21 October 2004, a Boeing 767-304, registration G-OBYH, was operating a public transport flight that included sectors involving Edinburgh Airport. Following a routine landing at Amsterdam Airport, a visual check of the aircraft's landing gear identified scuffing and fragments of glass embedded within the No 1 mainwheel tyre.
Prior to the arrival in Amsterdam, the aircraft had performed a landing on Runway 06 at Edinburgh and a subsequent departure from Runway 24. Both of these maneuvers at Edinburgh required the aircraft to execute a clockwise turn near the runway threshold. The landing at Edinburgh had taken place during darkness on a wet surface, while the following takeoff occurred at dawn on a dry runway. An inspection of the tyre performed before the flight to Amsterdam had shown no signs of damage.
The investigation
Investigators looked into the circumstances surrounding the aircraft's recent movements and identified that four runway lights near the threshold of Runway 24 at Edinburgh had been damaged. The pilot noted that the damage to the tyre likely occurred during the maneuvers at Edinburgh. The investigation examined the pilot's positioning and visibility during the turn at the runway threshold.
Findings
- The damage to the tyre was caused by contact with debris, specifically glass fragments from damaged runway lighting.
- The pilot's lateral displacement of the left landing gear from the edge of the runway during a 180-degree turn was a primary factor.
- The pilot's ability to monitor the gear position may have been hindered by incorrect seat positioning or head movement during the turn.