Airbus 320-200 – Tire Exploded on Climb

2018-04-14
C-FTJR, an Airbus 320-200 aircraft operated by Air Canada, was conducting flight ACA1219 from Orlando Intl, FL (KMCO) to Halifax/Stanfield Intl, NS (CYHZ). During the climb to cruising altitude after the departure from KMCO, the flight crew heard a thump from the belly as the aircraft climbed through FL240. Since no abnormal indications were noted on the flight deck, the flight continued to destination. When the landing gear was selected down on the approach to CYHZ, there was no response. The flight crew declared an emergency, executed a missed approach and performed a manual extension of the landing gear. The aircraft landed normally and the aircraft was brought to a full stop on the runway as the nose wheel steering is disabled in manual extension. The operator’s maintenance was called to tow the aircraft to the gate and observed that one of the left main tires was flat. Additionally, damage to the landing gear doors was observed.
The tire had exploded in the climb causing the noise and damage to the landing gear doors. The tire is being analyzed to determine the cause.