MD-11
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Training / Qualification; Troubleshooting
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical
Flight Crew FLC complied w / Automation / Advisory; Flight Crew Landed in Emergency Condition; General Maintenance Action; General Declared Emergency
Manuals; Chart Or Publication; Aircraft
Leveled off at 390 and received a 'TIRE LOW PRES' alert followed thereafter by a 'TIRE FAIL.' Configuration page showed Number 9 and Number 10 tires on the center truck with a boxed amber number and the Number 9 was decreasing. After consultation with Maintenance and Dispatch; Captain elected to exercise Captain's authority to land with the center retracted to avoid possible tire failure if the tire was indeed flat. There is not a specific procedure addressing this; so we reviewed every red tab/Flight Manual topic that applied to landing with the center gear retracted to ensure we complied with CG and performance criteria. Declared an emergency with Approach due to the abnormal gear configuration. Landing; taxi and parking uneventful. A procedure for tire failure after gear retraction on the Center Gear Checklist would be a nice addition to the red tabs.
An MD-11 CONFIG Page alerted TIRE LOW PRESS; then TIRE FAILURE. Because the QRH had no procedure for a Number 9 or Number 10 center tire failure; the Captain declared an emergency and landed with the center truck retracted.