The National Transportation Safety Board has reported a JetBlue Airways Corp. airliner that blew out its main landing gear tires after making a hard landing at Sacramento International Airport in August had its parking brake on.
Airplane recorded flight data indicated the parking brake became engaged during the Aug. 26 landing and remained engaged throughout the landing, according to the NTSB’s preliminary report. Preliminary reports may contain errors, which are corrected in the final report.
The NTSB said neither pilot recalled any abnormal indications or warnings associated with the braking system prior to landing, according to a report in the Sacramento Business Journal.
The first officer was flying the plane during the landing and the captain took over when the problem occurred. The airplane began a rapid deceleration and the first officer told the captain it felt like a main landing gear tire blew out. Around the same time, air traffic control tower personnel reported observing sparks and smoke around the main landing gear.
The plane’s 86 passengers and five crew members were evacuated. Seven passengers received minor injuries; none of the crew were hurt.
Besides blowing out the main landing gear tires, a minor tire-related fire erupted.
A Federal Aviation Administration inspection revealed that damage was limited to four deflated main landing gear tires and the wheel rims, which were ground down. Damage to the tires showed evidence of being locked on touchdown, the report says.
