What happened
On May 24, 2025, a Piper PA-32R-301T Saratoga II TC, registered as LV-KBJ, was conducting a recreational flight from Carrasco International Airport in Uruguay to San Fernando International Airport in Buenos Aires, Argentina. During the takeoff roll at the departure airport in Uruguay, the aircraft suffered a puncture in the right main landing gear tire. This defect led to a loss of tire pressure during the subsequent flight.
Upon arriving at San Fernando, the pilot attempted to land on runway 05. During the landing roll, the pilot noted that the aircraft tended to veer toward the right. While the pilot successfully maintained control and brought the aircraft to a stop within the runway boundaries, the aircraft came to rest on taxiway Charlie (C). Following reports of smoke during the landing, the airport's Rescue and Firefighting Service (SSEI) responded to the scene. No fire was found upon inspection, and all five occupants exited the aircraft without injury.
The investigation
The investigation was conducted as a desk investigation. Maintenance records and subsequent inspections of the aircraft were reviewed. Following the incident, the aircraft was placed into maintenance, where technicians performed non-destructive testing on the right main landing gear. The repair process included replacing the tire casing, tube, and brake pads.
Findings
- The primary cause of the landing deviation was the loss of pressure in the right main landing gear tire, which originated from a puncture during the takeoff phase in Uruguay.
- There were no injuries to the five people on board.
- The aircraft sustained minor damage, and no fire was present during the emergency response.