Finnair A319 at Vaasa and Helsinki on Apr 6th 2019, burst tyre

Last Update: June 17, 2019 / 16:10:42 GMT/Zulu time

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Photo of Finnair OH-LVA, Airbus A319 — Finnair OH-LVA, Airbus A319 (Photo credit: valentin hintikka / Flickr / License: CC by-sa)

Incident Facts

Date of incident
Apr 6, 2019

Classification
Incident

Airline
Finnair

Flight number
AY-322

Departure
Vaasa, Finland

Destination
Helsinki, Finland

Aircraft Registration
OH-LVA

Aircraft Type
Airbus A319

ICAO Type Designator
A319

A Finnair Airbus A319-100, registration OH-LVA performing flight AY-322 from Vaasa to Helsinki (Finland) with 86 people on board, was on approach to Helsinki's runway 04R when the crew advised of a possibly burst tyre, they would be able to vacate the runway however. The aircaft landed safely, vacated the runway and stopped. Examination revealed the outboard left main tyre had burst. The aircraft was towed to the apron.

Finland's Onnettomuustutkintakeskus (AIBF) reported they have opened a preliminary investigation into an airliner landing with a broken tyre on Helsinki's runway in the morning of Apr 6th, there were no injuries.

The airline reported the aircraft landed safely, it needs to be seen whether the passengers actually noticed anything in the cabin. The aircraft vacated the runway and was towed to the apron. It not known exactly how the tyre was damaged, however, the left outboard main tyre was quite badly damaged, obviously already during departure from Vaasa.

On Apr 8th 2019 the AIBF confirmed one of the six tyres was damaged during the takeoff run from Vaasa, there was additional damage occurred to the landing gear and the gear doors. A "preliminary investigation" to be completed in a few weeks time is being conducted.

A passenger reported in the reader comments below, that at least two passengers did notice the tyre burst during the takeoff roll.

On Jun 17th 2019 the AIBF released their preliminary report in Finnish stating that the investigation was discontinued as result of the preliminary findings.

The AIBF wrote the captain had taxied the aircraft out for departure at Vaasa and noticed the aircraft reacted jerky upon applying the brakes, he considered this normal with cold brakes however. While the aircraft was nearing the hold short line brakes were again applied resulting in a jerky response again. The captain therefore decided to use only light brakes during line up. The aircraft departed, during the departure roll the crew noticed a small vibration which subsided above 100 KIAS, and continued takeoff and the flight to Helsinki. During the climb a company captain travelling as passenger on the flight called the flight deck reporting he had observed the left main gear run untrue and suggested a tyre may have broken. The flight crew requested a runway inspection at Vaasa, in view of no abnormal indication, in particular all hydraulic systems operating normally and the brakes temperatures remaining low, decided to continue to Helsinki however. The runway inspection revealed evidence of a burst tyre, which turned out to be the outboard left main tyre. On approach to Helsinki the crew informed ATC and passengers, did not use the brakes to slow the aircraft down after landing (using reverse only) and stopped adjacent to the runway, from where the aircraft was towed to the apron. After landing some light hydraulic leak was observed from the left main gear. The investigation found the outboard brake of the left main gear had locked up probably as result of a malfunction of the brake control valve. The valve was replaced, thereafter the brakes worked smoothly again. The AIBF annotated that it was impossible for the crew to detect the locking of the brake during departure and climb with no sensors available. After the crew got aware of the situation they acted in accordance with the relevant procedures.