Landing gear failure and fire during training flight at Tyumen-Roshchino Airport

No fatalities • Tyumen-Roshchino, Russia • Landing (descent or approach)

A training aircraft experienced a tire burst and subsequent hydraulic failure during a high-speed landing, resulting in a wheel well fire and significant damage.

What happened

During a local training session at Tyumen-Roshchino Airport, the crew performed four consecutive touch-and-go maneuvers. These maneuvers were executed at a notably elevated speed. During the final approach, the aircraft was configured with flaps set between 15° and 20°.

Upon making contact with the runway at high velocity, the rear right tire of the left main landing gear disintegrated. The resulting debris from the burst tire severed a hydraulic line, which led to the partial retraction of the landing gear assembly. This mechanical failure triggered a fire within the wheel well area as the aircraft continued along the runway.

Despite the intensity of the fire and the structural damage to the airframe, all occupants managed to evacuate the aircraft without injury. The total number of fatalities was zero, though the aircraft sustained damage that rendered it a total loss.

Findings

Investigation into the incident determined that the sequence of high-speed landings placed excessive stress on the landing gear components. The primary factor in the accident was that the tire burst upon touchdown, which subsequently caused the hydraulic puncture and the collapse of the left main gear.

Probable cause

The accumulation of high-speed landings led to a tire failure that punctured a hydraulic line, causing the landing gear to malfunction.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 1979-05-31 Tupolev TU-134 accident near Tyumen-Roshchino, Russia?

A training aircraft experienced a tire burst and subsequent hydraulic failure during a high-speed landing, resulting in a wheel well fire and significant damage.

Were there any fatalities in the 1979-05-31 Tupolev TU-134 accident?

No fatalities were recorded in this accident.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 1979-05-31 involved a Tupolev TU-134, registration CCCP-65649, operated by Aeroflot - Russian International Airlines, at Tyumen-Roshchino, Russia.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The accumulation of high-speed landings led to a tire failure that punctured a hydraulic line, causing the landing gear to malfunction.

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