# NTSB FTW98IA158: McDonnell Douglas DC-10-10, N1836U, Denver, CO, March 25, 1998 - Type: NTSB incident investigation - Classification: Incident · No injuries · Incident investigation · Final report - Date: March 24, 1998, 20:08 local (Mar 25, 1998, 02:08 UTC) - Place: Denver, CO - Coordinates: 39.849292, -104.700599 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.8493&lon=-104.7006&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 299 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 2, 1999 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 20438 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW98IA158 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/20438/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW98IA158 ## Probable cause The total failure of one main landing gear tire. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, takeoff - roll/run - landing gear,tire - failure,total (cause) - powerplant - foreign object damage - wing - foreign object damage ## Analysis While on takeoff roll, the left number 2 main tire tread separated from the casing. Part of the tire went through the number one engine and another portion punctured the left wing. The crew operated the number one engine at reduced power due to vibration and after dumping fuel returned to the departure airport. A precautionary landing was performed and the passengers were deplaned and bussed to the terminal. Aircraft damage was foreign object damage to the number one engine and holes in the lower wing skin adjacent to the left main landing gear wheel well. Laboratory examination of the tire provided evidence that the failure was due to fatigue due to overheat caused by multiple retreading of the tire. ## Factual narrative On March 24, 1998, at 2008 mountain daylight time, a McDonnell Douglas DC-10-10, N1836U, operated by United Airlines as flight 1197, from Denver, Colorado, to Seattle, Washington, sustained minor damage during takeoff roll when a tire failed. None of the 299 persons aboard the aircraft were injured. The flight was operating under Title 14 CFR Part 121 and an IFR flight plan was filed. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The investigation provided information that during takeoff roll the number 2 left main tire failed. Part of the tire was ingested into the number 1 engine and part went into the left main wheel well. The flight deck crew operated the number one engine at reduced power due to vibration, and the flight returned to Denver, landing at 1834, after dumping 8,400 pounds of fuel. Following landing, the brakes froze due to overheating and the passengers were deplaned and taken to the terminal via bus. After the left main landing gear wheels were replaced, the aircraft was towed to a United Airlines hangar where repairs were made. Postincident examination provided evidence of foreign object damage to the number one engine and two holes in the lower left wing skin above the left main landing gear wheel well. At the request of the Safety Board Investigator-In-Charge, an engineering analysis on the failed tire was conducted by United Airlines Engineering, utilizing Michelin/Gooddrich Aircraft Tire Corporation's failure analysis laboratory. According to the attached failure analysis report, the tire failed as a result of elevated temperature and high levels of fatigue "probably" due to repeated retreading of the tire. As a precautionary measure, Michelin/Goodrich proposed that 50X20-20 DC-10 tires be limited to two retreads (R-2). United agreed and ceased to use tires which had more than the second retread. In addition, Michelin/Goodrich ceased to ship 50X20-20 tires which had more then the R-2 retread to its customer consignment points. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1836U](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1836U-2002-06-10), registration cancelled 2002-06-10, S/N 47968, built 1972 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: McDonnell Douglas DC-10-10 - Registry model: [Mcdonnell Douglas DC-10-10](https://openairdocs.org/model/mcdonnell-douglas-dc-10-10) (registry code 3022110) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [GE CF6-6 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/ge-cf6-6-series) (registry code 30020, turbo-fan) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 3136 - Airframe hours: 13321 - Engines: GE CF6-6 40000 lbs thrust turbo fan - Damage: Minor damage - Flight: Part 121 - Registered owner: United Airlines - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport - Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, March 23, 1998, 5 hours before - Departed: DVX - Destination: SEA, SEATTLE, WA - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: DEN, Denver International, runway 17L, 12,000 × 150 ft, concrete ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 56; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 15,048 total, 2,476 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark - Wind: 60° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 34 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: DEN, 1 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Incident 19980324009849I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980324009849I), Mar 24, 1998: Doug DC10*, Denver, CO, Minor damage. Narrative: #2 main tire tread was lost during take off roll and part of which was ingested into the #1 engine and part resulted in 2 holes in the upper wing… 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.