Incident Overview

Date: Monday 19 December 2005
Aircraft Type: Boeing 747-433
Owner/operator: Air-India
Registration Number: VT-AIM
Location: Los Angeles International Airport, CA (LAX/KLAX) – ÿ United States of America
Phase of Flight: Take off
Status: Substantial
Casualties: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 273
Component Affected: Four right main body landing gear tires (number 11 and 12).Four right main body landing gear tires (number 11 and 12).
Investigating Agency: NTSBNTSB
Category: Accident
A four-right main body landing gear tire burst during takeoff, resulting in significant damage to the airplane. The tires penetrated the fuselage, causing substantial damage. Post-incident examination identified that valve core leaks were caused by improper torquing, and the tires themselves were operated in an over-deflected condition, leading to internal damage. The failure of the tires was the primary cause of the accident, initiated by the over-deflected condition.A four-right main body landing gear tire burst during takeoff, resulting in significant damage to the airplane. The tires penetrated the fuselage, causing substantial damage. Post-incident examination identified that valve core leaks were caused by improper torquing, and the tires themselves were operated in an over-deflected condition, leading to internal damage. The failure of the tires was the primary cause of the accident, initiated by the over-deflected condition.

Description

The four right main body landing gear tires burst during the takeoff ground roll, and the crew performed a precautionary landing. Pieces of the tires and wheel assemblies penetrated the fuselage structure and the airplane incurred substantial damage. Post accident examination revealed that the valve cores on three of the four inflation valves, including the two aft valves, were not torqued to the manufacturer’s specifications and leaked steadily. Examination of the right aft main body landing gear tires (number 11 and 12) showed that they were operated in an over deflected condition at some point prior to the event, which resulted in internal damage to the tires. The aft tires failed first as a result of the internal damage and initiated the accident sequence. Damage to the forward tires was consistent with the tires bursting due to their impact by debris from the aft tires. Probable Cause: the incorrect installation of the inflation valve cores in the number 11 and number 12 wheel assemblies that allowed the tires to be operated in an over deflected condition that resulted in their failure.

Primary Cause

Incorrect inflation valve core installation in the number 11 and 12 wheel assemblies, resulting in an over-deflected condition and subsequent tire failure.Incorrect inflation valve core installation in the number 11 and 12 wheel assemblies, resulting in an over-deflected condition and subsequent tire failure.

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