# NTSB MIA03LA138: WSK PZL Mielec M-18A, N82120, Belle Glade, FL, July 1, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 1, 2003, 15:05 local (19:05 UTC) - Place: Belle Glade, FL - Coordinates: 26.799999, -80.533332 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=26.8000&lon=-80.5333&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 28, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA Flight Standards District Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 57427 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA03LA138 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/57427/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA03LA138 ## Probable cause The inability of the pilot to maintain directional control of the airplane following a blown right main landing gear tire during the takeoff roll, resulting in the airplane rolling into soft terrain and subsequent nose over. A factor in the accident was the pilot's delay in reducing power immediately after the blown 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 - deflated - Loss of control - on ground/water, takeoff - roll/run - directional control - not possible, pilot in command (cause) - throttle/power control - delayed, pilot in command (contributing factor) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, takeoff - aborted - terrain condition - soft - Nose over, takeoff - aborted ## Analysis The pilot stated that during the takeoff roll from the hard-packed rock road used as a runway, the right main landing gear tire blew. He applied left rudder input and slight left brake, but the airplane veered to the right, off the road onto soft sand/muck, and the airplane then nosed over. He further reported that the tire blew when the airplane was traveling about 70 mph, which was too slow to fly and too fast to stop before nosing over. The right main landing gear tire had been replaced in May 2003, and it had accumulated approximately 84 hours in service. ## Factual narrative On July 1, 2003, about 1505 eastern daylight time, a WSK PZL Mielec M-18A, N82120, registered to and operated by Aero-Ad, Inc., nosed over during the takeoff roll from a private airstrip near Belle Glade, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed for the 14 CFR Part 137 local aerial application flight. The airplane was substantially damaged and the commercial-rated pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The flight was originating at the time of the accident. The pilot stated that during the takeoff roll from the hard-packed rock road used as a runway, the right main landing gear tire blew. He applied left rudder input and slight left brake, but the airplane veered to the right, off the road onto soft sand/muck, and the airplane then nosed over. He further reported that the tire blew when the airplane was traveling about 70 mph, which was too slow to fly and too fast to stop before nosing over. The right main landing gear tire had been replaced in May 2003, and it had accumulated approximately 84 hours in service. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N82120](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N82120-2016-11-08), registration cancelled 2016-11-08, S/N 1Z020-22 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: WSK PZL Mielec M-18A - Registry model: [WSK PZL Mielec M-18A](https://openairdocs.org/model/wsk-pzl-mielec-m-18a) (registry code 9810103) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (registry code 99999) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 1Z020-22 - Airframe hours: 3935.2 - Engines: WSK PZL Kalis ASz-621R-M18 967 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Operator: Aero-Ad, Inc. - Registered owner: Aero-Ad, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Departed: Belle Glade, FL - Airport: runway 18, 3,800 × 50 ft ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 40; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review February 22, 2002; seat: center; flight hours: 2,500 total, 1,500 in this make and model, 2,460 as pilot in command, 104 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 150° at 11 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 73 °F - Altimeter: 30.09 inHg - Observed at: KPBI ## 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 20030701016029A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030701016029A), Jul 1, 2003: Wsk M18A, Belle Glade, FL, Substantial damage. (-23) Take off roll on gravel road, right main tire blew out. Aircraft veered right off gravel road and dug into dirt causing aircraft to veer further right,… 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.