Cessna 206H N245RB accident near Honolulu, Hawaii

Probable cause

A blown nose landing gear tire during landing, which resulted in the pilot’s inability to maintain directional control.

NTSB analysis

The commercial pilot reported that shortly after landing on the runway, he had difficulty controlling the airplane. He stated that the airplane initially drifted slightly to the left; however, when he applied aileron and rudder to correct the drift, the airplane yawed suddenly to the right, and he was unable to counteract it. The airplane subsequently exited the runway surface and struck an arrestor gear assembly.

Postaccident examination of the airplane established flight control and braking continuity to the cockpit controls. The main landing gear tires were examined and appeared to be properly inflated with no anomalies observed. The nose landing gear tire remained on its hub, but a ½-inch hole was observed on the sidewall of the inner tube. The damage to the tire was consistent with a blown tire, which most likely occurred during the landing and resulted in the pilot's inability to maintain directional control. No additional pre-accident mechanical malfunctions or failures were observed that would have precluded normal operation.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for WPR15LA148 for the full record.