FLUSHING, NY, USA
N721DA
LOCKHEED L-1011-385
WITNESSES STATED THAT THE AIRPLANE LANDED HARD AND THAT THE TIRES 'BLEW' WHEN THE NOSEWHEEL TOUCHED DOWN. THE 'NORMAL SINK RATE' FOR THE NOSE WHEEL IS APPROXIMATELY 1 FOOT PER SECOND. THE CALCULATED RATE OF SINK FOR FLIGHT 702 WAS 14.66 FEET PER SECOND. POST INCIDENT EXAMINATION OF THE TIRES REVEALED THE FAILURE WAS NOT BECAUSE OF HEAT FROM AN OVER OR UNDER INFLATION CONDITION. IT WAS CONCLUDED BY THE TIRE MANUFACTURER THAT THE TIRE FAILURE WAS 'MOST LIKELY' THE RESULT OF THE EXCESSIVE FORCES APPLIED DURING THE NOSEWHEEL TOUCHDOWN.
THE CAPTAIN'S IMPROPER AIRCRAFT CONTROL WHICH RESULTED IN AN EXCESSIVE NOSEWHEEL RATE OF SINK AND SUBSEQUENT OVERLOAD FAILURE OF THE NOSE GEAR TIRES.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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