A DC9-50 ON TKOF ROLL HAD #1 MAIN TIRE AND WHEEL ASSEMBLY DEPART THE ACFT CAUSED BY THE OVERTORQUING OF THE WHEEL BOLTS.
Synopsis
A DC9-50 ON TKOF ROLL HAD #1 MAIN TIRE AND WHEEL ASSEMBLY DEPART THE ACFT CAUSED BY THE OVERTORQUING OF THE WHEEL BOLTS.
Narrative
I WAS THE PNF CAPT OF THE FLT THAT HAD LOST THE L OUTBOARD MAIN GEAR TIRE. I HAD NO COCKPIT INDICATIONS THAT THE WHEEL HAD DEPARTED THE ACFT. I WAS INFORMED OF THE TIRE COMING OFF AND ROLLING DOWN THE RWY AND THROUGH A FENCE BY TWR AND DEP CTL. SINCE THE WX WAS EXCELLENT; I ELECTED TO CONTINUE TO MY SCHEDULED DEST; AND HOLD TO BURN DOWN FUEL TO PERMIT A SLOWER LNDG SPD ON VERY LONG RWYS. DECLARED AN EMER WITH APCH AND REQUESTED ARFF COVERAGE. LNDG WAS UNEVENTFUL AND I HAD THE GEAR PINNED AND TOWED TO THE GATE. WITH THE L OUTBOARD TIRE MISSING; THE ACFT TILTED SLIGHTLY TO THE L. IT FELT EXACTLY LIKE A COMPRESSED STRUT. COMPANY MAINT IS INVESTIGATING; AND APPARENTLY FOUND SHEARED BOLTS ON THE DEP RWY. FO RPTED NOTHING UNUSUAL ON PREFLT INSPECTION. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: THE RPTR STATED THE DIRECT CAUSE OF THE WHEEL FAILURE WAS OVERTORQUING OF THE WHEEL NUTS AND BOLTS. THE RPTR SAID THIS AIRPLANE HAD PROBS WITH THE R WHEEL ASSEMBLY SO ALL THE WHEEL BOLTS WERE TORQUED AGAIN. THE RPTR SAID THIS WHEEL WAS OVERTORQUED. THE RPTR SAID THE LOOSE WHEEL WENT THROUGH A FENCE AT ZZZ AND STRUCK AN AUTOMOBILE AND INJURED THE DRIVER. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR ACN 452180 REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: THE RPTR STATED SHE WAS THE PF AND ALSO MADE THE WALKAROUND INSPECTION. THE RPTR SAID NOTHING ABNORMAL WAS OBSERVED ON THE WALKAROUND. THE RPTR SAID THE L OUTBOARD WHEEL AND TIRE WERE THE COMPONENTS THAT DEPARTED THE ACFT AND THE CAUSE IS UNKNOWN.
Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.