History of the event
While taxiing for a scheduled passenger service from Sydney, NSW, to Lord Howe Island, the crew of the DeHavilland DHC-8 (Dash-8) reported that the aircraft had sustained a deflated left outboard main tyre and was returning to the departure bay. Shortly after, the cabin crewmember advised the flight crew that the tyre appeared to be 'wet' and that some passengers had seen smoke coming from the wheel area. The flight crew stopped the aircraft on the taxiway and asked the airport rescue and fire-fighting services (RFFS) to check for signs of fire. After receiving the all-clear, the passengers were disembarked and the aircraft was towed to the operator's maintenance facility.
