Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 143; Flight Crew Total 15000; Flight Crew Type 9800
Situational Awareness
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical; Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Smoke / Fire / Fumes / Odor
Air Traffic Control Provided Assistance; Aircraft Aircraft Damaged; Flight Crew Rejected Takeoff
Aircraft
At approximately 100 knots the Number 3 tire blew. We heard a very loud noise and the right side of aircraft lifted. It was apparent that we would not be able to takeoff and the rejected takeoff procedure was initiated. At that point I was unable to tell if a tire had blown or if we had lost an engine. I believe the last airspeed noted was 113 knots. We remained on the runway center-line. As we came to a stop; the airplane began to pull hard to the left towards the operational brakes. We remained on the runway and [advised ATC of emergency] and had the fire trucks meet the Aircraft. We completed the rejected takeoff checklist. We contacted the flight attendants to look for any fire indications from the over-wing exits. They did not see any fire coming from the wing area. Tower saw smoke coming from the landing gear. Tower thought we had an engine fire. Airport Fire Rescue (ARF) was very quick to respond to the aircraft. We tried to get a discrete frequency for ARF and finally did after a couple of minutes. Before we established contact with ARF Tower was giving us information. Tower was unable to tell which side of the aircraft the fire was coming from and the flight attendants saw no fire from the over-wing exits. The tower was having difficulty telling the location of the smoke or if there was fire. There were no wheel well or engine fire indications from the flight deck. We shut down both engines and were evaluating the need for evacuation. At that time ARF arrived and we were able to establish radio contact. At the point when we were about to initiate the Evacuation ARF was able to quickly extinguish the smoke and fire. We determined that immediate evacuation was not necessary. Airport operations met the aircraft with buses and all passengers exited through the main cabin door safely. We maintained continuous communication with the flight attendants and passengers through the entire process. My first officer did an excellent job completing checklists and communicating ideas.
We experienced a blown tire and rejected our takeoff roll at approximately 110 knots. I was the pilot monitoring. Soon after I made the 100 knots callout; there was a loud bang; the plane 'rocked' sideways; and began to rattle while acceleration slowed. The Captain immediately began to reject the takeoff as I expected due to the noticeable lack of acceleration and increased directional control difficulty. I told tower control. As we slowed; they asked what assistance we needed and I requested emergency response. We ran the rejected takeoff QRH and determined that an evacuation was not currently necessary or prudent. We continued evaluating our condition and noted no abnormal indications other than the likely blown tire. I requested an evaluation from tower and the Captain (CA) asked for an evaluation from the Flight Attendants (FAs). The FAs noted no smoke or fire. Tower noted some faint smoke. Soon after they noted the smoke was increasing and they could now see some fire; but they could not determine its origin. I opened my window but could not see smoke or fire. The tower then noted they thought the left engine was on fire. We had no abnormal engine or fire indications. The CA shut down engine 1. The ARF was on scene within a minute or so. They later told us they heard the tire blow and began rolling before the official call from tower. ARF immediately began spraying us upon arrival. There was a fire truck outside the First Officer (FO) side front spraying toward our gear. Since tower had told us that the CA side was on fire; I believed they were just spraying our brakes to keep them cool. Tower switched us to 121.35 for discrete comm with ARF; but we could not immediately reach them for evaluation. When they finally began communicating a minute or 2 later; they noted that it was the starboard side gear that was on fire. Not familiar with nautical terms; we initially thought this was the CA side because that is what tower had told us. We soon realized that it was the FO side. Once ARF was on scene and spraying; we felt the threat was neutralized and an evacuation was not prudent. The CA shut down Eng 2 and started the APU. The CA made multiple PAs to the customers; FAs; and spoke with ARF. I spoke primarily with ARF; Tower and Ops. We requested air stairs and buses and were accommodated rather quickly. We ran the parking checklist. During the entire process; we regularly evaluated whether an evacuation was necessary and read through the evacuation QRH to be familiar in the event the CA called for evacuation.
B737 flight crew experienced a tire failure at 110 knots during takeoff and rejected. Airport Rescue and Firefighting arrived quickly and extinguished a small fire that developed on the main gear with the failed tire. No evacuation was necessary.