"Flat tire" vs "blown tire" legality
Had a flat tire on rollout yesterday and mistakenly called it a "blowout" to ATC. Was later told to be careful on what verbiage to use over ATC because there is a difference with how the FAA/NTSB is supposed to be involved. Can anyone provide a legal explanation here between the two?
Is it that a flat tire is simply a loss of air, and a blowout is the tire actually failing from structural reasons? |
Sounds like a MX thing. You probably couldn't tell from the cockpit anyway, unless you heard a loud bang.
If you land on a flat tire, it will probably look like a blowout by the time you roll out. |
Its a MX and Airport Ops thing. A blowout implies shrapnel, which requires much more detailed inspections of the airport surfaces and the aircraft. Remember the Concorde accident?
|
Ah, okay that makes sense. Yeah, concord is what came to my mind!
Thanks. |
So I stayed in a Holiday Inn last night.
Mr ATC how are you supposed to tell the difference from the cockpit upon landing? Any event should be treated like a blowout until proven otherwise. Imagine the plane behind you heading for the weeds because of FOD? Great example again of Mr (or Mrs) ATC knowing best....again. |
Originally Posted by stevecv
(Post 3119267)
Ah, okay that makes sense. Yeah, concord is what came to my mind!
Thanks. It of course stinks that this level of caution is necessary and ambulance chasers ruin everything they get near but it is something all professional pilots must consider, especially before they arrive at their 'destination' employer.
Originally Posted by TiredSoul
(Post 3119306)
So I stayed in a Holiday Inn last night.
Mr ATC how are you supposed to tell the difference from the cockpit upon landing? Any event should be treated like a blowout until proven otherwise. Imagine the plane behind you heading for the weeds because of FOD? |
Originally Posted by tallpilot
(Post 3119309)
It is disturbing if the tower controller's main objective was to avoid needing to ask ops for a runway inspection. |
The two basic causes of aircraft tire blowouts are hot brakes and FOD like in the Concorde accident. Tires can also blow from under inflation heat buildup while taxiing. Some aircraft actually have a taxi distance limit after which you have to chock the wheels and let the tires cool off. This limit would normally only be reached if several runway changes occurred while taxiing.
The USAF lost a C-5 during an air refueling training mission when a tire blew quite a while after takeoff, and started a fire in the cargo compartment. It was determined that one of the brakes had been in full antiskid braking mode since initial taxi and thru takeoff. With 24 braked wheels and fairly light weight it is not really surprising that nobody noticed. Brake temp gauges were installed after this accident. Joe |
Originally Posted by tallpilot
(Post 3119309)
It is disturbing if the tower controller's main objective was to avoid needing to ask ops for a runway inspection.
|
Originally Posted by tallpilot
(Post 3119309)
The best way to avoid liability is to be as unspecific as possible on the recorded lines. "Maintenance issue, equipment malfunction, etc." Out of an overabundance of caution I would prefer not to move the aircraft until it is inspected.
It of course stinks that this level of caution is necessary and ambulance chasers ruin everything they get near but it is something all professional pilots must consider, especially before they arrive at their 'destination' employer. It is disturbing if the tower controller's main objective was to avoid needing to ask ops for a runway inspection. Great advice for sure |
Originally Posted by stevecv
(Post 3119161)
Had a flat tire on rollout yesterday and mistakenly called it a "blowout" to ATC. Was later told to be careful on what verbiage to use over ATC because there is a difference with how the FAA/NTSB is supposed to be involved. Can anyone provide a legal explanation here between the two?
Is it that a flat tire is simply a loss of air, and a blowout is the tire actually failing from structural reasons? |
Originally Posted by joepilot
(Post 3119340)
The two basic causes of aircraft tire blowouts are hot brakes and FOD like in the Concorde accident. Tires can also blow from under inflation heat buildup while taxiing. Some aircraft actually have a taxi distance limit after which you have to chock the wheels and let the tires cool off. This limit would normally only be reached if several runway changes occurred while taxiing.
The USAF lost a C-5 during an air refueling training mission when a tire blew quite a while after takeoff, and started a fire in the cargo compartment. It was determined that one of the brakes had been in full antiskid braking mode since initial taxi and thru takeoff. With 24 braked wheels and fairly light weight it is not really surprising that nobody noticed. Brake temp gauges were installed after this accident. Joe |
Originally Posted by galaxy flyer
(Post 3119785)
Are you sure about brake temp gauges being installed? I flew it it for 17 years, never had a temp system. The only case that fits your description was the Clinton-Sherman accident and that was 40+ years ago.
Tough airplane, good pilot, although there is speculation that he mistook Clinton Sherman Munipical (3,000') for Clinton Sherman AFB (13,000'). Joe |
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