... The pilot was pretty heartsick about it and beating himself up, ...
If you fly an RV long enough you will get a flat tire. I got one a month ago and shut down the runway for about 10 minutes while we got it off. Small bit of wheel pant damage but no tire, rim or aircraft damage.
Last I talked to him, he didn’t know why it went flat.
My "Secret" to success, change the tires when they are worn with quality tires, always replace tubes
(when I had the stock wheel I changed the nosewheel tire/tube every annual). My current Beringer has at least 4 yrs on it now with not much wear.
I'll venture to say that 100% of the flats I've seen are torn tube sidewalls from one of two things: low air pressure first, or "cheaper/low quality"
The pilot was pretty heartsick about it and beating himself up, but was back up in his other plane within a couple days.
If you fly an RV long enough you will get a flat tire. I got one a month ago and shut down the runway for about 10 minutes while we got it off. Small bit of wheel pant damage but no tire, rim or aircraft damage.
Best part, no injuries. The pilot was pretty heartsick about it and beating himself up, but was back up in his other plane within a couple days.
What was happening with the nose wheel, to dictate such frequent changes?
I had my first flat tire after the last Young Eagle flight on July 4, 2022 at 77S. Bought direct at Vans in Aurora.
Not sure what long enough is but 19 yrs and 2200+ hrs and no flats. In fact never had a flat in any GA airplane.
Really makes me wonder how other people experience a flat, and how it ended up on his nose like this..
My "Secret" to success, change the tires when they are worn with quality tires, always replace tubes (Michelin Air stop), and most importantly, never let the air pressure get low. Anything less than 30psi and you're just asking for trouble (I keep mine between 40-50). Change the nosewheel to one of the tubeless wheels like Beringer (when I had the stock wheel I changed the nosewheel tire/tube every annual). My current Beringer has at least 4 yrs on it now with not much wear.
I'll venture to say that 100% of the flats I've seen are torn tube sidewalls from one of two things: low air pressure first, or "cheaper/low quality"
tubes.
Most folks seriously underestimate the value of tires/brakes. It's the 'simple' stuff that usually bites you.
That ! .......Sometimes tires go flat when pushed sideways.
Sometimes tires go flat when pushed sideways.
I will add a third important mx item. Always add talc when installing tires with tubes. There is a lot of movement between the tube and tire, and the inside wall tends to be a bit coarse and some form of friction reduction is required to prevent chafing.
Larry
Only when the tire is underinflated.
100% agree. Anyone installing tube tires should know that.!
While I agree they should, I have seen a few that had none, telling me that should know and do know are not the same thing out in the wild. I suspect many EAB builders / owners have possibly never seen a tube tire setup, except bicycles which can get away without using talc, and would never know this if we didn't point it out.
Only when the tire is underinflated, then it flexes to much or the bead pops off.
While I agree they should, I have seen a few that had none, telling me that should know and do know are not the same thing out in the wild. I suspect many EAB builders / owners have possibly never seen a tube tire setup, except bicycles which can get away without using talc, and would never know this if we didn't point it out.