What happened
On October 28, 2014, at 14:45 UTC, a Beechcraft 95-B55, registration PT-KIL, was performing a private transport flight from Tefé (SBTF) to Flores (SWFN) in Amazonas, Brazil. The aircraft was carrying a pilot and one passenger.
Following landing on runway 29, the right main landing gear tire burst. This failure led to the subsequent retraction of the right main gear, causing the aircraft to lose control on the ground. The aircraft veered off the runway, exiting the right lateral limit by approximately 5 meters. The incident resulted in no injuries to the occupants, though the aircraft sustained substantial damage, including damage to the right flap, the wing's underside, and the access step, as well as a propeller strike against the ground.
The investigation
The investigation examined the sequence of events and the condition of the aircraft components. It was determined that the pilot likely approached the landing with an excessive speed or approach slope, touching down after the first third of the 799-meter runway. This necessitated heavy braking to stop within the remaining distance.
While the tire appeared to be in usable condition, investigators identified oval-shaped wear on the tread and a carcass rupture. These physical characteristics indicated that the wheels had locked up due to excessive and improper application of the brakes.
Findings
- Excessive braking during the landing phase led to wheel lock-up and the subsequent tire burst.
- The pilot's use of aircraft controls during the landing sequence contributed to the loss of control on the ground.