What happened
On July 11, 2008, an Oceanair Linhas Aéreas Fokker F28MKF0100, registration PR-OAF, was landing at Guarulhos Airport (SBGR) following a flight from Brasília. The aircraft was operating with an inoperable anti-skid system, a condition permitted under the Minimum Equipment List (MEL) for the specific destination.
During the landing roll on runway 09R, all four main gear tires burst. The sudden loss of tire integrity caused the aircraft to veer 45 degrees to the right and slide along the runway. The pilot managed to maintain control using the nose wheel steering and left pedal, eventually bringing the aircraft to a stop on the runway centerline approximately 20/00 meters before a taxiway. There were no fatalities or injuries among the five crew members and 86 passengers, though the aircraft sustained light damage to the landing gear fairings and the lower wing surfaces due to debris.
The investigation
CENIPA investigators analyzed flight data from the FDR and CVR, as well as the aircraft's maintenance history. The investigation confirmed that the approach and touchdown were within safe parameters, and the aircraft was within weight and balance limits. Analysis of the flight recorders showed that the vibration and noise associated with the tire bursts began approximately six seconds after touchdown, ruling out the possibility that the wheels were locked at the moment of impact.
Technical analysis of the tires by Goodyear Aviation revealed oval wear patterns on the tread and carcass ruptures caused by wheel locking during braking. The investigation also noted that the crew had not performed a specific briefing regarding the abnormal landing procedures required for an inoperable anti-skid system.
Findings
- The primary cause of the tire bursts was the inadvertent application of heavy braking before the aircraft reached the recommended speed.
- The crew failed to utilize the thrust reversers during the landing roll, likely because the pilot believed the 3,000-meter runway was sufficient for deceleration without them.
- There was a lack of a specific cockpit briefing regarding the risks and procedures for landing with an inoperable anti-skid system, which could have helped mitigate the risk of wheel lock-up.