What happened
On October 23, 2015, at approximately 20:00 UTC, a Beechcraft B90, registration PT-DIQ, was performing a private flight from Ariquemes, RO, to Porto Velho, RO. The aircraft was carrying a pilot and four passengers.
Upon landing on runway 01 at Porto Velho Airport (SBPV), the aircraft began its landing roll. After traveling approximately 600 meters, the left tire burst. This failure caused the aircraft to veer to the left, eventually coming to a stop 10 meters beyond the lateral edge of the runway. The pilot immediately shut down the engines and coordinated the safe evacuation of all passengers. The aircraft sustained minor damage, but all five occupants were uninjured.
The investigation
CENIPA investigators examined the flight history and the aircraft's condition. The aircraft had previously operated a leg from Pimenta Bueno to Ariquemes earlier that day, and the pilot had performed a pre-flight inspection with no abnormalities noted. The investigation noted that the aircraft was within weight and balance limits and that all required documentation and maintenance logs were up to be date.
Investigators also reviewed the takeoff from Ariquemes, where the pilot reported a tendency for the aircraft to drift to the left and a longer-than-normal takeoff roll. While a runway sweep was conducted at Porto Velho to look for foreign object debris (FOD) that might have caused the burst, no objects were found. However, the investigation was hindered because the tire had been replaced by maintenance personnel before investigators arrived, preventing the preservation of physical evidence.
Findings
- The pilot was properly rated and experienced for the flight.
- Meteorological conditions were favorable for the operation.
- The aircraft was in an airworthy condition with no documented mechanical discrepancies.
- The most probable cause is a hypothesis that a foreign object may have damaged the tire during the earlier takeoff from Ariquemes, which would explain the observed leftward drift and increased takeoff distance during that segment.
- The loss of evidence due to the premature replacement of the tire prevented a definitive determination of the exact cause of the burst.