# NTSB ERA11CA482: Questair Venture, N36V, Memphis, TN, September 4, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: September 4, 2011, 11:47 local (16:47 UTC) - Place: Memphis, TN - Coordinates: 35.038612, -89.972778 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.0386&lon=-89.9728&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 27, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 81696 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA11CA482 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/81696/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=81696 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA11CA482 ## Probable cause The pilot's inability to maintain directional control during landing with a flat tire. Contributing to the accident was the failure of the left main landing gear tire for undetermined reasons. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Landing gear system: tire casing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023244): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Questair VENTURE, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023244/cases.md?model=05615A8), [All aircraft, 36 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023244/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Attain/maintain not possible (probable cause); cases with it: [Questair VENTURE, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=05615A8), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Questair VENTURE, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=05615A8), [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330); cases with it: [Questair VENTURE, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md?model=05615A8), [All aircraft, 994 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Questair VENTURE, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=05615A8), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Questair VENTURE, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=05615A8), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Questair VENTURE, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=05615A8), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to the pilot, the airplane accelerated as expected during the takeoff roll, and, at rotation, he heard a loud "pop" and felt a "thump." He said that he and the copilot agreed that the airplane probably had experienced a main landing gear tire blowout. The pilot flew by the air traffic control tower, but the controllers were unable to assess the damage, so the pilot requested a return to a different runway for landing. The airplane touched down in the center of the 150-foot-wide runway, but the pilot was unable to maintain directional control with full application of right rudder and right brake. The airplane departed the left side of the runway and struck a concrete drainage culvert, which resulted in substantial damage to the airframe. A postaccident examination of the left main landing gear tire revealed evidence of a puncture and tearing around its circumference but no foreign objects associated with foreign object damage (FOD). No postaccident FOD check of the runway was conducted by the airport authority. The examination also revealed that the inboard half of each main landing gear tire displayed significant wear, no remaining tread, but no chord visible. The cause of the flat tire could not be determined. ## Factual narrative According to the pilot, the airplane accelerated as expected during the takeoff roll, and at rotation, a loud "pop" was heard and a "thump" was felt. He and the copilot agreed that they had probably experienced a blowout of a main landing gear tire. The pilot conducted a fly-by of the air traffic control tower, but the tower personnel were unable to assess the damage, and he then requested a return to a different runway for landing. The airplane touched down in the center of the 150-feet wide runway, but the crew was unable to maintain directional control with a full application of right rudder and right brake. The airplane departed the left side of the runway, and struck a concrete drainage culvert, which resulted in substantial damage to the airframe. Examination of the left main landing gear tire revealed evidence of a puncture, and tearing around its circumference, but no foreign objects associated with foreign object damage (FOD). Examination revealed that the inboard half of each main landing gear tire displayed significant wear, no remaining tread, but no chord visible. Operations on the departure runway were continued without interruption, and no post-accident FOD check of the runway was conducted by the airport authority. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N36V](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N36V-2012-03-15), registration cancelled 2012-03-15, S/N 16, built 2003 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: QUESTAIR INC VENTURE - Registry model: [Questair VENTURE](https://openairdocs.org/model/questair-venture) (registry code 05615A8) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-550 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-550-series) (registry code 17042, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 16 - Airframe hours: 380 - Engines: CONT MOTOR IO-550 SERIES 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Questair Ventures LLC - Registered owner: Questair Ventures LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, October 15, 2010 - Departed: MEM, Memphis, TN - Destination: MEM, Memphis, TN - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: MEM, Memphis International, runway 36C, 11,120 × 150 ft, concrete ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 61; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 2,800 total, 250 in this make and model, 20 in the last 90 days - Co-pilot; age 62; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review December 11, 2009; seat: left; flight hours: 629 total, 450 in this make and model, 556 as pilot in command, 10 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 80° at 8 knots - Visibility: 9 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 12,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 66 °F - Altimeter: 29.87 inHg - Observed at: MEM ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20110904020629A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110904020629A), Sep 4, 2011: Questair Inc VENTURE, Memphis, TN, Substantial damage. On 9/04/2011, N36V, a Questair Venture, operated by [privacy data omitted], in VMC weather conditions, experienced a left main landing gear tire failure during… ## Other investigations on N36V (1) From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. - [NTSB LAX08CA100](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX08CA100), Apr 12, 2008: Questair Venture (N36V), Salt Lake City, UT, substantial damage. Probable cause: The failure of the left side master brake cylinder that led to a loss of braking capability during landing rollout. A contributing factor was the presence of a ditch next to the runway's end. ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 25, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=81696. 3.3 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 150 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40353903&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Pilot Statement (item 2, .PDF, 172 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40353904&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Statement-Redacted.PDF - Passenger Statement (item 3, .PDF, 297 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40353905&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Passenger%20Statement-Redacted.PDF - Accident Photographs (Courtesy of FAA) (item 4, .PDF, 11 photos, 1.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40353906&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photographs%20(Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.PDF - Airplane Tire Photographs (Courtesy of FAA) (item 5, .PDF, 5 photos, 766 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40353907&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Airplane%20Tire%20Photographs%20(Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.PDF From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.