Eclipse 500
Flight Crew Flight Engineer; Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 24; Flight Crew Total 13000; Flight Crew Type 230
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Ground Event / Encounter Loss Of Aircraft Control; Ground Excursion Runway
General Maintenance Action
Aircraft; Weather
While landing my left tire deflated causing loss of directional control leading to an exit of the runway with no damage to aircraft or passengers. It had been raining prior to our arrival leaving patchy wet spots on the runway. The runway appeared mostly dry with a slight sheen to it. The Landing Weight was approximately 5450 pounds (max landing weight for this aircraft is 5;600 LBS) Runway length is 5;000 feet this would give me a V-ref speed of 93 KTS with a stopping distance of 2;877 feet. I landed as close to the threshold and on Vref as I could to allow full length of the runway.After firmly on the runway and applying brakes I felt a slight slip on the left side for just a second. I then noticed that the aircraft felt like it was drifting to the left; assuming it was a crosswind I applied rudder and ailerons to compensate; I then realized that the indications were of a flat tire on the left side. I continue breaking with the right tire trying not to hydroplane it and slow the aircraft. As the aircraft got slower I started losing rudder effectiveness and control. When it was obvious that the aircraft was going to depart the runway I continued with full right rudder and applied max brakes on the right side trying not to let it cartwheel. The aircraft came to a stop approximately 1;000 feet after leaving the runway in a fairly straight path on the wet grass. I shut down the engines and aircraft. After walking around and assessing the damage the only visible damage I could see was the deflated left tire and mud coverage. This eclipse jet is a 500 model with most of the current upgrades. The only upgrade that it does not have is anti-skid brakes. Not knowing if there were any structural defects in the tire that had this aircraft been equipped with antiskid would have probably made the difference in this situation. This is something that I can only speculate and I am very happy there was no major damage and no one was injured.
EA50 Captain reported loss of control on landing due to a flat tire on left main resulting in a runway excursion.