Jet’s tyres deflated during landing after parking brake error

»» AN investigation has found a business jet which burst two tyres and went out of control on landing at Cornwall Newquay Airport may have had its parking brake left on accidentally.

On Thursday the Department for Transport’s Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) published its report of an inquiry into the incident, on October 7, 2022, involving a Us-registered Beech 400A, number N709EL.

It found the parking brake had been left partially engaged during the previous takeoff from East Midlands Airport, and that the friction had either melted the thermal protection fuse plugs in the mainwheel hubs, allowing the tyres to deflate, or overheated the brakes, which seized, resulting in the tyres bursting on touchdown.

As the aircraft slowed it started to drift towards the right side of the runway. The report states: “A combination of weathercocking into the wind [rotating around its vertical axis] and applying left pedal brought the aircraft back to the runway centreline where it came to rest angled about 45 degrees to the left of the centreline.”

Two crew and one passenger were aboard at the time, although the aircraft had capacity for seven to nine passengers. Nobody was injured in the accident.

The commander, who had more than 5,200 hours’ flying experience, said he could not recall having set the parking brake but it was possible he might have done so while the aircraft was holding before takeoff.

The operator was asked if it had considered adding ‘Release parking brake’ to the ‘Before takeoff’ checklist. It said this had been considered, but after reviewing checklists for other aircraft types it decided this was not necessary. The AAIB’S report makes a safety recommendation to the aircraft manufacturer regarding adding this item to the ‘Before takeoff’ checklist.