AN SF340 LANDS IN A XWIND AND BLOWS 4 TIRES ON THE ROLLOUT AT JFK; NY.

Narrative

A SCHEDULED FLT FROM CYUL TO JFK FLOWN IN VMC. WX IN JFK WAS VFR; WINDS 270 DEGS AT 17 KTS. WE RECEIVED OUR CLRNC FOR A VISUAL APCH RWY 31R. WE WERE THEN CLR TO LAND RWY 31R; APCH WAS FLOWN ACCORDING TO COMPANY STANDARDS: STABILIZED APCH PATH WITH APPROX A 700 FPM RATE OF DSCNT; AT 1000 FT AGL. DUE TO L XWIND CONDITION; A SIDESLIP WAS USED BY THE CAPT (PF AT THE TIME) AND THE L MAIN GEAR TOUCHED DOWN FIRST FOLLOWED BY THE R MAIN GEAR A 'SPLIT SECOND' LATER; 500 FT PAST THE FIXED DISTANCE MARKERS. THE TOUCHDOWN WAS SMOOTH. THEN THE SAAB 340 STARTED VEERING TO THE R IN A GRADUAL AND SMOOTH MANNER. THE CORRECTIVE ACTION WAS TO USE REVERSE (THRUST REVERSERS); PUT THE NOSEWHEEL ON THE GND; AND USE L RUDDER TO RETURN TO THE CTRLINE. NO BRAKES WERE EVER USED DURING THE WHOLE LNDG ROLL. WE USED THE MOMENTUM TO TAXI CLR OFF THE RWY 31R. THEN PARKED THE AIRPLANE AND CALLED THE COMPANY; THEN WE REASSURED THE PAX. THE PORT AUTH OFFICER TOLD US THAT 2 'RECAPS' WERE FOUND ON THE RWY 31R; BUT ALL 4 TIRES WERE FLAT. PAX WERE DEPLANED ON THE TXWY ONTO A BUS AND BROUGHT TO THE TERMINAL. NOBODY WAS SHOCKED OR INJURED (JUST WORRIED ABOUT THEIR CONNECTIONS). THE DIGITAL FLT DATA RECORDER WAS PULLED; READ; AND CORROBORATED THESE FACTS. THE COMPANY IS NOW LOOKING INTO THE 'BENEFITS' OF USING RECAPPED TIRES AND THE AMOUNT OF SIDELOAD THEY CAN WITHSTAND.