Landing with flat tire

[n5lp]

Thought I would report this just as a data point. I had the left main tire go completely flat during a short flight today. I made my normal three point landing and could immediately tell that something was amiss but the airplane was completely controllable and I even taxied down the runway to the turnoff and turned to clear the runway in the direction opposite of the flat. Took lots of throttle to taxi and of course the tube was destroyed. but the wheel pant seems fine.

It was time for new tires and tubes anyway.

[flytoday]

Glad you landed safely. What was your estimated landing speed and flap setting? Any crosswind?

If you knew you were landing on a flat tire would you recommend any special landing techniques or runway selection?

Thanks!

Carl

[CFI1513840]

Larry, glad to hear you landed ok. I have often wondered if landing with a flat tire would cause any damage to the fairing, so your experience was of interest to me. Can you tell me how much clearance you provided between the wheel and the pant when you fit them? I recently had one of my fairings catch at the rear cutout and it broke a chunck out of it. Fortunately they haven't been painted yet. I'm in the process of repairing and enlarging the cutouts. I plan on opening it up another 1/4 " or so, which should bring it close to 1" at the front and back corners, where the tire is most likely to bulge on landing (or when flat as in your case).

[n5lp]

Originally Posted by flytoday

Glad you landed safely. What was your estimated landing speed and flap setting? Any crosswind?

The wind was a 20 degree left crosswind at about 8 knots. The left tire is the one that was flat. The approach speed was 65 knots so touchdown at maybe 60 knots or so.

Originally Posted by flytoday

If you knew you were landing on a flat tire would you recommend any special landing techniques or runway selection?

Thanks!

Carl

I think I would do it just as I did it this time except would try to avoid a crosswind from the direction of the flat. I like the idea of three point for tailwheel steering.

Originally Posted by CFI1513840

...Can you tell me how much clearance you provided between the wheel and the pant when you fit them?...

The best I can remember I fit them so a finger could fit between the fairing and tire all around. I had to open then up a bit when I started using retreads. With the flat, there is interference but it must not be too bad or maybe the interference is less when the tire is rotating.

[David Paule]

Originally Posted by CFI1513840

....I plan on opening it up another 1/4 " or so, which should bring it close to 1" at the front and back corners, where the tire is most likely to bulge on landing....

When faster-than-stock wheel fairings were developed for the Cessna 180, it was found that the bigger the gap, the slower the airplane. FYI.

Dave

[Dean Pichon]

...both were non-events, though I had always imagined suddenly veering off the runway into the weeds. In both cases, the only way I knew I had a flat was how quickly I decelerated. No damage to the tire, rim, brake, or wheel pant, though I did put some scratches in the wheelpant. I could not taxi with the flat. I had to put the flatted wheel on a dolly and have the aircraft towed back to my hanger. I was lucky in both cases as the flats were at my home airport. I'm not sure what I would have done at a remote field without friends and friendly airport staff...

When I build my next RV-4 I will give up a little speed for more clearance between the wheelpants and the ground (and tires).

[n5lp]

Originally Posted by Dean Pichon

... I could not taxi with the flat. I had to put the flatted wheel on a dolly and have the aircraft towed back to my hanger. I was lucky in both cases as the flats were at my home airport. I'm not sure what I would have done at a remote field without friends and friendly airport staff...

Uh me too. Sort of a helpless feeling. I think I could have taxied in but the noises sounded expensive and labor intensive. I could have changed the tire but that takes a long time out in the heat with airport security watching and lights flashing.

Aaron at Chandler Aviation was very helpful. They had never done anything like this but we ended up using their very expensive tug with a low dolly under the flat tire. We got the tire up on the dolly by lifting with our backs under the spar. I steered from the tail. Very nice guy and no charge. He backed it right into the hangar.

[Whitman]

In some planes I've flown, they say put the flat tire on the centerline. Seems like it would apply in the Rv if it were to veer off in the direction of the flat but admittedly only gives you a few more feet to work with in this bird!

[strahler13]

As Dean says...both were non-events, though I had always imagined suddenly veering off the runway into the weeds. In both cases, the only way I knew I had a flat was how quickly I decelerated. No damage to the tire, rim, brake, or wheel pant, though I did put some scratches in the wheelpant. I could not taxi with the flat. I had to put the flatted wheel on a dolly and have the aircraft towed back to my hanger. I was lucky in both cases as the flats were at my home airport. I'm not sure what I would have done at a remote field without friends and friendly airport staff...

Exactly my experience.

[clutch22]

I landed with a flat main once that I was unaware of prior to touchdown. It veered pretty hard, but I had 100ft runway to work with. I was also pretty low time pilot at the time so maybe it could've been a little more controllable.