What happened
On 29 January 2026, a Saab 340B registered VH-VEZ departed Canberra Airport for a scheduled passenger flight to Newcastle. Shortly after takeoff from runway 35, air traffic control advised the crew that a wheel had separated from the aircraft. The flight crew initially climbed to a safe altitude and reviewed their quick reference handbook, but no specific checklist applied to this situation.
As the aircraft approached the edge of the controlled airspace, the crew decided to return to Canberra. They coordinated with air traffic control for a visual fly-by of the tower, which confirmed the left inboard main landing gear wheel was missing. The crew then orbited the airport to prepare for landing, calculating performance and briefing passengers. They declared an urgency (PAN-PAN) and landed safely on runway 35 at 16:11 local time. Emergency services reported no fire or fluid leaks. The aircraft was towed to the apron, where the 19 passengers and crew disembarked without injury. The missing wheel was later found against an internal airport fence.
The investigation
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) conducted a limited-scope investigation into the incident. Examination of the recovered components revealed significant damage to both the wheel hub and the landing gear axle. The axle nut and safety bolt remained in place, indicating that the wheel did not simply unscrew from the axle.
Analysis of the fractured wheel hub showed deep rotational gouging and heat discoloration on the bearing surfaces. Fragments of the bearing rollers, cages, and seals were found with the wheel. The ATSB determined that the failure of the wheel bearings was the initiating event. This failure allowed the wheel to move axially outward, pass over the axle nut, and separate from the aircraft. The subsequent fracture of the wheel hub was assessed as a secondary result of abnormal loading while the wheel continued to rotate with collapsed bearings.
Findings
The ATSB concluded that the left main landing gear inboard wheel bearings failed during takeoff, causing the wheel to separate. Due to the extent of the damage to the bearing components, it was not possible to determine the specific cause of the bearing failure. The investigation found no evidence of pre-existing cracks or defects in the wheel hub that would have contributed to the fracture. Maintenance records indicated that the wheel assembly had been inspected and maintained according to manufacturer instructions prior to the incident.
Safety action
In response to the occurrence, the aircraft operator conducted a fleet-wide inspection of main and nose wheel assemblies, finding no faults. Additionally, the operator implemented a proactive change to its maintenance schedule, electing to replace wheel bearings on-condition or at every second wheel overhaul, whichever occurs first.