What happened
On January 28, 2017, a Boeing 737-476, registration HK5197, was performing a non-scheduled cargo flight from Bogotá (SKBO) to Leticia (SKLT). The flight crew, consisting of four members, landed on runway 21 under daylight conditions. The runway surface was wet following recent heavy rainfall.
During the deceleration phase, immediately after the application of reverse thrust, the number 4 tire exploded. The force of the explosion sent rubber fragments into the right landing gear compartment, severing hydraulic lines and the anti-skid harness. This resulted in a total loss of both automatic and manual braking capabilities. Despite the crew's attempt to use maximum reverse thrust to stop the aircraft, the plane could not be halted on the remaining runway. The aircraft crossed the threshold of runway 03 and entered the safety area, coming to rest 20 meters from the threshold. The impact with the uneven, saturated terrain caused the right main landing gear to fracture and resulted in substantial structural damage to the lower fuselage and engines.
All four crew members were uninjured and evacuated the aircraft safely.
The investigation
The GRIAA investigation focused on the sequence of events following the tire burst and the maintenance history of the aircraft. Investigators examined the hydraulic system damage, the condition of the runway safety area, and the maintenance records of the operator, Aerolínea Del Caribe S.A. The investigation also reviewed the company's safety management processes regarding recurring technical discrepancies.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was deficient maintenance procedures by the operator, which failed to implement effective corrective actions to address the root cause of repetitive tire failures.
- The number 4 tire burst due to over-flexing, a condition caused by repeated cycles of inflation and over-inflation in response to frequent low-pressure reports.
- The explosion of the tire directly caused the failure of the braking system by rupturing hydraulic lines and the anti-skid harness.
- The operator's safety management system failed to identify or address repeated reports of technical discrepancies.
- The safety area at the end of runway 03 at Leticia airport had inadequate conditions, including unevenness and water accumulation, which exacerbated the damage to the aircraft's fuselage and landing gear.