An A300 flight crew reported a nose tire failure on gear retraction resulting in a loud bang that wa...

Attributes
ACN	938124
Time
Date	201103
Local Time Of Day	0001-0600
Place
Locale Reference	ZZZ.Airport
State Reference	US
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	A300
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	Takeoff
Route In Use	None
Component
Aircraft Component	Nose Gear Tire
Person 1
Function	Captain Pilot Flying
Qualification	Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 120 Flight Crew Total 9000 Flight Crew Type 300
Person 2
Function	First Officer Pilot Not Flying
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 135 Flight Crew Total 11020 Flight Crew Type 1420
Events
Anomaly	Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe

Narrative:

After takeoff rotation; as we initiated gear retraction; we experienced a loud bang and smelled smoke in the cockpit. Tower called and reported hearing a loud bang and inquired if we were alright. All engine and cockpit indications were normal and the engines continued to deliver takeoff thrust. Our one jump seater was brought forward for assistance. We agreed the most likely scenario was a nose gear tire failure as the bang seemed to originate from directly below the cockpit. We contacted [appropriate operations personnel]. Unable to determine the nature of the problem we elected to return to [departure airport]. We declared an emergency and made an uneventful landing.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: An A300 flight crew reported a nose tire failure on gear retraction resulting in a loud bang that was even heard by the Tower. They declared an emergency and returned to departure airport.

Narrative: After takeoff rotation; as we initiated gear retraction; we experienced a loud bang and smelled smoke in the cockpit. Tower called and reported hearing a loud bang and inquired if we were alright. All engine and cockpit indications were normal and the engines continued to deliver takeoff thrust. Our one jump seater was brought forward for assistance. We agreed the most likely scenario was a nose gear tire failure as the bang seemed to originate from directly below the cockpit. We contacted [appropriate operations personnel]. Unable to determine the nature of the problem we elected to return to [departure airport]. We declared an emergency and made an uneventful landing.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of April 2012 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.

An A300 flight crew reported a nose tire failure on gear retraction resulting in a loud bang that was even heard by the tower. They declared an emergency and returned to departure airport.