Tuesday, October 1, 2024 at 7:55am local time at Bergamoa Boeing 737 MAX 8-200 of Ryanair had a problem during landing at Orio al Serio airport due totire explosionfortunately without consequences for the 161 passengers and the crew. An investigation was launched, with the seizure of black boxes to analyze flight data and communications between pilots. The accident caused damage to 450 meters of asphalt on the runway, which was closed until 7.30pm.
The explosion of an aircraft tire, especially at high speed, can pose serious risks to the control of the aircraft, endangering both pilots and passengers.
Ryanair plane tire explosion, dynamics
The tire explosion affected Ryanair flight FR846, arriving from Barcelona. The accident occurred around 8am while the plane was landing, did not cause significant damage to the aircraft.
The explosion forced the temporary closure of the airport with the suspension of all landing and departure operations, causing delays and cancellations. The Fire Brigade intervened on site with various means to manage the situation.
The track suffered superficial damage over 450 meters, with a deep scratch a few centimetres. Sacbo, the airport management company, announced the need for urgent intervention for the flooring restoration which was entrusted to a specialized company.
Why an airplane tire explodes and when
The main causes of a tire explosion can be: wear, excessive pressure, overloading of the vehicle or manufacturing defects. In the case of an airplane, the maximum stress on the tires occurs during the landing phase when the airplane touches the runway.
The landing phase and the job the tires are called upon to do
The landing phase of an airplane, in particular the moment in which it touches the runway (known as touchdown), is one of the most critical of flying and especially for tires. The aircraft approaches the runway with the landing gear extended and the pilot aligns the aircraft with the runway.
The critical phase for tires, touchdown and impact with the ground
When the time comes touchdown the main landing gear wheels (usually the rear wheels) contact the runway first. At this point, the wheels are still stationary, while the plane is traveling at high speed (around 240-280 km/h or more, depending on the plane). This causes a rapid increase in the rotation speed of the tires, which go from 0 to the plane’s forward speed almost instantaneously. The plane, which until then was supported by the air, undergoes a sudden weight transfer to the wheels.
When the wheels touch the track, the friction between the tire and the road surface causes them to start spinning rapidly. This sudden friction generates an enormous amount of heat and abrasion of the tread. Upon first contact, the outside of the tire may slip slightly before gaining full grip, causing minimal wear and sometimes leaving brief rubber marks on the trail.
This friction sometimes generates visible smoke, especially if humidity or other conditions favor its formation. After the touchdown, the spoilers (flaps on the wing) lift to reduce lift, improve wheel grip on the runway, and allow for more effective braking. After the main landing gear hits the ground, the nose landing gear gradually lowers onto the runway.
Then there are different schools on the type of more or less violent landing on the runway. A “soft” landing is one in which the passengers do not even perceive the moment of contact with the ground. But with this mode the tires are worn more as they struggle to accelerate and drag on the asphalt for several metres, abrading themselves. Absurdly with a more violent landing (often like the one pilots practice Ryanair), when passengers feel the impact more, the tires accelerate more quickly and, as they slide less on the asphalt, they wear less.
The braking phase, another stress on the tyres
The hydraulically operated mechanical wheel brakes are then activated and the reverse thrust on engines that reverse airflow to generate drag and further slow the plane.
All of this happens in seconds and requires careful pilot control, assisted by the aircraft’s automatic systems to ensure a safe and controlled landing.
The cause of the tire explosion
The causes of the tire blowout on the Ryanair flight can be traced back to a combination of factors. Among these, possible wear of the tires is hypothesized, with potential compromises to the internal structure. To this could be added a more abrupt landing phase than normal, which would have subjected the tires to excessive stress. The more violent impact would have resulted in greater load and deformation, forcing the tires to absorb more kinetic energy than usual.
Airplane tyre, characteristics
Modern aircraft tires are technologically advanced structures, designed to operate at high speeds and to support maximum loads. These tires are mainly composed of three materials: rubber (50%), rope (45%) and metal (5%). The rubber and string are formulated in various mixes to optimize performance.
Aircraft tires are divided into two categories: low ratefor speeds up to 192 km/h high speedfor speeds above 192 km/h. In terms of size they have a width of 0.5 m and a diameter of 1.5 m and they have to bear enormous loads. During landing, the aircraft can reach a speed of 300 km/h, while the temperature of the tires on the tread reaches 260°C. Despite these extreme conditions, the tires do not explode thanks to the fact that they are filled with nitrogen instead of compressed air. This avoids moisture inside, reducing the risk of freezing and flammability.
Before installation, aircraft tires undergo static and dynamic tests to ensure safety, which simulate real operating conditions such as speed and load. Static tests include:
- Verification of resistance to hydraulic pressure.
- Measurement of tire mounting pressure.
- Checking the tightness of tubeless tyres.
- Determination of tire size.
Replacement of airplane tires
Replacing an airplane’s tires is a crucial process for the safety of aircraft, considering that they can travel approx 8,000 kilometers per year. The tire changing process requires a team of specialists and can take approx 30 minutes. During the replacement, trolleys and jacks are used to lift the aircraft, and the tires are filled with nitrogen to avoid freezing and fires.
Mechanics must carefully check the tires to verify theirwearobserving diagnostic indicators in the tread. Tire management is essential to ensure aviation safety and requires specific skills to avoid accidents.
In conclusion, a black week for Ryanair because a ToastsThursday 3 October, flight FR8826 from Brindisi to Turin was evacuated to the runway due to a fire in one of the engines during take-off. The Boeing 737, while taxiing, suffered aengine explosion which generated a flame, causing the plane to skid. The pilot promptly activated the brakes and alerted the control tower. The flames, visible to passengers through the windows, sparked panic on board.
Read also:
→ Traffic information
→ Train news
→ Planes
→ Sustainable Mobility
→ Longest bridges in the world
→ What do you think? Drop by discussions on the FORUM!
#Tire #explosion #airplanes #landing #happen