Definition
Holes, depressions, or rough spots in the surface of a runway, taxiway, or ramp that can damage tires, landing gear, or propellers, and may upset the airplane during taxi, takeoff, or landing.
Plain English
Potholes or rough patches in the ground surface where the airplane rolls. They can jolt the airplane, damage the gear, or even nick a propeller if struck at speed.
Context Anchor
Encountered during preflight inspection and ground operations, especially when checking the area around the airplane before taxiing.
Derivation
An older American English term for a pothole, originally describing ruts in dirt roads that would jolt a wagon or carriage. The same hazard applies to airplanes operating on rough surfaces.
Why Pilots Care
They can damage tires or landing gear, cause a prop strike, or lead to loss of directional control during takeoff or landing rollout.
Intuition Check
Do not confuse chuckholes with chocks. Chocks are blocks placed against the wheels; chuckholes are holes or broken places in the ground surface.
Example Sentence 1
Before taxiing out from the grass strip, the pilot walked the path to check for chuckholes left by the recent rain.
Example Sentence 2
The taildragger pilot slowed early on the rollout to avoid chuckholes that could have caused a propeller strike.