What happened
On March 19, 2001, at approximately 18:30, a Piper PA-34-200T operated by a flight training center was conducting a local instructional flight at Tenerife Norte Airport. The flight, involving an instructor and a student pilot, was performing simulated short-field landing maneuvers, which require precise touchdown points and heavy braking application.
During the final landing of the session, the aircraft touched down beyond the intended distance. In an attempt to stop the aircraft within the remaining runway length, the student pilot applied the brakes forcefully. This action led to the immediate bursting of the right main gear tire, followed closely by the bursting of the left main gear tire. Despite the tire failures, the crew maintained control of the aircraft and successfully brought it to a halt on the runway.
Airport fire services were dispatched to the scene by the control tower, though no emergency intervention was required. The aircraft remained on the runway for approximately ten minutes, causing a temporary closure of the runway to traffic, until maintenance personnel replaced the damaged tires and moved the aircraft.
The investigation
Investigators examined the aircraft's braking system and the condition of the tires. The inspection revealed that both main gear tires exhibited significant flat spots, with friction against the runway pavement having worn through the tread. The investigation confirmed that the aircraft's braking system was functioning normally and showed no mechanical anomalies or malfunctions.
Findings
- The primary cause of the incident was excessive braking application, which caused both main gear wheels to lock and skid across the pavement.
- The skid resulted in the formation of flat spots on the tires, leading to their eventual bursting.
- The student pilot's heavy braking was likely prompted by the long touchdown distance, as the pilot attempted to adhere to the parameters of the short-field landing training exercise.