What happened
During the rotation phase of takeoff, the left inboard main landing gear wheel separated from the aircraft. This separation occurred as the aircraft was lifting off the runway.
The investigation
Investigators examined the aircraft and found that the axle nut had remained securely fastened to the end of the axle. Because the nut was still in place, the investigation focused on whether the wheel had fractured or if the bearings had failed. Examination of the damaged components revealed that the bearings had failed, and no pre-existing cracks or defects were found on the fractured hub pieces. The damage to the hub was determined to be a secondary effect caused by the abnormal loading that occurred while the wheel continued to rotate with collapsed bearings.
This bearing failure allowed the wheel to shift axially outward, move past the axle nut, and eventually detach from the landing gear axle. While bearing failures can stem from issues such as manufacturing defects, improper installation, lack of lubrication, or fatigue, the condition of the bearing races and remaining fragments did not provide a definitive cause.
Maintenance records for VH-VEZ showed that the wheel had been maintained according to instructions and had a history of bearing component replacements. All components had been inspected during an overhaul on 26 November 2025, and the wheel had completed 271 cycles since that time. These factors suggested that the incident was not the result of maintenance or installation errors.
Findings
- The primary event was the failure of the left main landing gear inboard wheel bearings.
- The failure of the bearings allowed the wheel to move outward and bypass the axle nut, leading to separation.
- The number of 0 fatalities and 0 injuries were reported during the occurrence.
- The specific initiating cause of the bearing failure could not be determined from the available evidence.