What happened
On September 9, 2016, a BE55 aircraft, registration N575NV, was performing a private flight under visual flight rules (VFR) from Ljubljana to Locarno. During the landing phase at Locarno Airport (LSZL), the pilot was operating at a speed slightly higher than usual for the final approach. Upon touchdown, the pilot applied heavy braking, which triggered the initial burst of the left main gear tire. In an attempt to maintain directional control following the first failure, the pilot applied even more pressure to the right brake, which subsequently caused the right main gear tire to burst as well. The aircraft subsequently veered off the runway and came to a stop in the grass, approximately 620 meters past the threshold of runway 2/26R.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the sequence of events during the landing roll and the application of braking forces. The pilot, who was landing in Switzerland for the first time, reported that the sudden application of brakes was the primary catalyst for the tire failures. The investigation confirmed that the aircraft sustained light damage, specifically the loss of both main gear tires, and that the runway was temporarily closed for operations for approximately two and a half hours following the incident.
Findings
- The primary cause of the incident was the heavy application of braking immediately following touchdown.
- The pilot's attempt to compensate for the loss of directional control after the first tire burst led to the failure of the second tire.
- There were no injuries to the pilot or the three passengers on board, and no third-party damage was reported.