MD-11
Flight Crew Private; Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Commercial
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 88; Flight Crew Total 8000; Flight Crew Type 3543
Situational Awareness; Workload; Time Pressure
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe
Air Traffic Control Provided Assistance; Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance; Flight Crew Requested ATC Assistance / Clarification; Flight Crew Returned To Departure Airport; Flight Crew Overcame Equipment Problem
Aircraft; Human Factors
During the takeoff on Runway XXL; the Captain stated; 'V1' and simultaneously as he said 'Rotate'; I heard 'Tire Failure' several times. I rotated and we left the gear down. ZZZ Tower and Departure were excellent in their communication and coordination during this critical phase of flight. We leveled off at 5;000 ft. and ran the checklists to include the Level 2 'Tire Failure'; and [requested priority handling]. The synoptic page showed all the tires appeared normal. We tried several times to contact [Company] via the Satcom but it was inoperative. We did get an ACARS message sent about the diversion back to ZZZ but we never received a response. We were burning gas quickly due to the gear being down. The original flight plan had us landing in ZZZ1; so we felt the most prudent action would be to land Runway XXR. We stopped on the runway and the [crash fire rescue] vehicles checked our tires. They gave us approval to taxi into parking while they followed and did one last check with the temperature gun to make sure we did not have an overheat situation. When Maintenance arrived at the aircraft he told us that it had been written up several times (I believe it was for the tire sensor #5); he stated they had all performed BTB and this was the first time an air turn back had been accomplished. He told us they would MEL (32-XX-X-X-X Brake Temperature Monitoring and Tire Pressure Indicating System) the indicators so we would not receive the indication again and signed it off. We read through the MEL. I explained that in the MEL we had to go to AOM Chapter 5 for the 'Quick Turnaround Limitations' and had to wait at least 45 minutes and then check the thermal plugs before executing a takeoff. Maintenance agreed they would check them again. Captain had spoken with Assistant Chief Pilot on the phone; received new paperwork; made sure we were in compliance with the MEL; AOM and that all of it was annotated and signed off in the logbook. We felt we were fit to fly and could safely fly to ZZZ1. When we got to ZZZ1 the flight to ZZZZ departed in approximately 1 hour. We both felt we were unfit to fly due to the culmination of the prior handling of the [diversion]; as well as the hotel event report that had happened earlier in the day.
MD-11 flight crew reported a tire failure during takeoff that resulted in an air return and crew fatigue.