AA62:-
Chug, could you recount your problem with a Hastings mainwheel and the subsequent BOI.
Exercise Drumbeat required the detachment of some half dozen Hastings and crews to RAF West Raynham. Various missions ensued but the one in question required the movement of Italian troops from W Germany to Northolt. Duty duly carried out and we returned empty to WR. Almost immediately after landing (I was HP) the aircraft started veering right Progressively more rudder applied (we wheeled them on in those days so plenty of rudder effect). Still it veered right. Opened up #4 throttle in a desperate attempt to stay on the R/W. No go, so slammed it shut, pulled back hard to get the tailwheel down, and we took to the grass, still going right until suddenly the a/c veered even more to the right and the nose came down despite my efforts. We came to a grinding halt, nose buried in the grass in a classic prang pose. All the feather/fire buttons pushed, "evacuate, evacuate" given (or words to that effect). Flight Deck emergency exit (next to Flt Eng posn) used by everyone, the AQM had deployed the pax door escape rope only to find it didn't reach the ground in this tail high attitude! Apologies for the poor pic, a combination of poor photographer and AGFA slide rot :-
Star witness at subsequent BoI. "When you say you applied full rudder, which rudder was that?", etc. Everyone else had long since returned to Colerne and I was beginning to feel I might be fated for elsewhere. In the midst of yet another interrogation, Rex Oates the detachment EngO interrupted proceedings by announcing that they had removed the stbd main wheel to find it entirely separated around its circumference in the tyre well. It had thus locked on the axle bursting the tyre which resulted in the subsequent excursions. All interest in me suddenly ceased, the BoI continued with its deliberations and the Boss sent an aircraft over to sweep me up. As a kind gesture he had authorised me to captain the return flight. I was blessed with excellent bosses throughout!
It transpired that this was a "known fault" in these large single mainwheels which dated from WWII types like the Lanc and Halifax. As a driver it wasn't well known to me though.
Subsequent reflection underlined how lucky we had been that the accident hadn't happened on the previous landing at Northolt with a full pax load onboard. That sentiment though probably wasn't shared by the Stn Cdr WR who now had a Cat 5 hulk in the middle of his pristine a/f with an AOCs inspection imminent....