What happened
On July 12, 2016, a Cessna 208B, registration PR-AAC, was performing a police operation flight from Corumbá to Campo Grande, Brazil. The aircraft was carrying two crew members and one passenger. During the landing roll at Campo Grande International Airport (SBCG), the aircraft experienced a sudden deviation from its path. As the pilot applied the brakes to decelerate, the aircraft veered sharply to the right, exiting the runway and coming to a stop in a grassy area.
All three occupants escaped the incident without injuries. The aircraft sustained light damage.
The investigation
CENIPA investigators examined the runway, meteorological conditions, and the aircraft's maintenance history. No foreign objects were found on the runway that could have caused tire damage. Technical analysis of the landing gear revealed that the right wheel had locked up, causing localized wear on the tire tread, which ultimately led to a sudden burst and deflation.
An independent technical inspection of the braking and wheel assemblies was commissioned by the operator. This investigation uncovered a significant maintenance error: the torque plates responsible for securing the brake assemblies on both main landing gear legs had been installed in an inverted position. This technical non-compliance was identified as a factor that could impair braking efficiency.
Findings
- The sudden burst of the right tire was caused by a wheel lock-up during the landing roll.
- Improper installation of brake torque plates on both main landing gear legs was identified as a contributing factor related to aircraft maintenance.
- The aircraft's maintenance services were performed by a third-party provider.