Amateur-built LONG EZ N282RD accident near Boulder, Colorado

Probable cause

The sudden loss of tire pressure during takeoff roll, which resulted in a loss of directional control.

NTSB analysis

The pilot reported that during the takeoff roll, shortly before liftoff, the airplane began to swerve to the left. He was unable to regain directional control, and the airplane departed the left side of the runway. A postaccident examination of the runway revealed a wavy, double-line marking consistent with the width of a main landing gear tire. The marking began about 1,400 feet down the runway and continued another 400 feet until it departed the left runway edge. The pilot attributed his loss of directional control to a sudden deflation of the left main landing gear tire. The postaccident examination confirmed that the left main tire was deflated and loose in its wheel assembly. The examination did not reveal any additional anomalies with the airplane that would have prevented normal operation. The left swerve encountered during the takeoff roll was likely due to a sudden loss of pressure in the left main landing gear tire, which resulted in increased surface drag.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for CEN14LA011 for the full record.