US pilots warned about failing Goodyear inner tubes

ERJ staff report (DS)

Washington DC -- US pilots are being warned to check for possible failures of inner tubes made from butyl rubber by Goodyear Aviation Tires, especially in cold weather.

In a Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin (SAIB) number CE-11-47 issued on 9 August, the US Federal Aviation Authority has advised that pilots and operators pay special attention during pre-flight checks to airplane tyres with butyl rubber inner tubes made by Goodyear Aviation.

In the SAIB,, the FAA said, "There have been several reports of Goodyear inner tubes failures during cold weather operations. The failures were reported following short flights or following ground operations. Goodyear is aware of these failures and has made several attempts to improve the cold weather performance of its inner tubes.

"In November 2008, Goodyear incorporated a change to its compound for their butyl rubber inner tubes. Since then, the reliability of the inner tubes had increased, but cold weather failures were still reported. Therefore, Goodyear has started to test another improvement to their butyl rubber inner tubes made from an updated compound. Following successful field testing, Goodyear will make the improved inner tubes available."

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Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin from FAA