Pilot Debrief

Rockwell 112 near Knoxville, TN — 2020-02-15

Final reportERA20LA109
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Date
2020-02-15
Location
Knoxville, TN, USA
Airport
DKX
Aircraft
Rockwell 112
Registration
N377SB
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
Minor
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Landing

Probable cause

A loss of directional control during landing following deflation of a flat-spotted tire for reasons that could not be determined based on available evidence.

NTSB narrative

The pilot flew a normal approach, landed about 1/3 down the runway, and applied the brakes equally a few seconds after touchdown. About 1 or 2 seconds after the airplane began to slow, he felt, "a very aggressive turn to the left," which he described as if the airplane had suddenly encountered a 20+ knot crosswind. He applied right rudder input, but the airplane continued left, departed the runway onto grass, and impacted a ditch coming to rest with the nose landing gear collapsed. The left main landing gear tire was found deflated and flat spotted. Postaccident examination of the airplane's brake system revealed no evidence of preimpact failure or malfunction. The reason for the flat-spotted tire could not be determined.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Mechanical failure
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have checked tire condition before takeoff.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • 4 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents4

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