B737 crew reported left nose wheel and axle were found to be missing after parking at gate. Crew noticed a bump during taxi in but attributed it to taxiway surface defects.
Synopsis
B737 crew reported left nose wheel and axle were found to be missing after parking at gate. Crew noticed a bump during taxi in but attributed it to taxiway surface defects.
Narrative
I was operating my second flight from the left as this is my Captain (CA) Operational Evaluation (OE) training. We were taxiing into the ramp area from the south port on the line to gate. We had felt no difference in the airplanes ability to taxi the entire time while taxiing from Runway XXC. As we turned into the ramp area on the B Line abeam gate we felt a bump. Both the Line Check Airmen (LCA) and I thought that was a pot hole as there are many at ZZZ. A few seconds later we felt another bump on the left side towards the left main gear and again we both said ' there's that pot hole again.' During this time I was taxiing between 6-8kts. I made the turn into the gate using the automatic system. We set the brake and continued on with shutting the engines down and the rest of the Parking Flow/procedure. Once the checklist was completed; we noticed that there were quite a few people on the ramp looking at the nose of the airplane. I just figured that I maybe overshot the spot by a little bit. Ground personnel then hooked up headsets to talk with us. I again thought they needed to move us for the jet bridge. The ground personnel told us that the left tire had come off of the nose wheel and that Maintenance was on their way out.We were both kind of stunned. We called ops to gather more information and they mentioned that we lost a tire in the ramp by another gate. Things started to make sense as to why we felt the bumps in that area.I made announcements to the passengers keeping them informed; but a bit vague on the exact details. Maintenance came out to jack the airplane up to support it so we could get the jetbridge connected so that the passengers could finally deplane. The process took about 25-30mins from once we set the brake to getting the jetbridge connected.We did a postflight inspection and saw that the entire left nose wheel and axel were gone. We then visually checked the left main gear and saw that there was some damage to the left gear as well.An eventful second flight on Operational Evaluation (OE).
Second reporter narrative
I was conducting Captain Operational Evaluation (OE) from the right seat. On Taxi-in: Entered Ramp for gate. We made the turn onto B-line abeam another gate. Aircraft speed was a slow ramp pace; I'd estimate 6 kts. Upon completing the turn; we felt a bump; followed by a bump near the rear landing gear a few seconds later. We make a comment something to the effect 'That was quite a pothole' (they exist all over ZZZ). At no time did we feel that it was any different than taxiing down taxiway 1 in ZZZ.First Officer (FO) (CA OE) made the turn into the gate uneventfully; following the direction of the electronic parking system. Upon setting the parking brake at XA:54 local; we noticed the jetway driver on the phone; not moving the gate; and all the ramp agents looking at the aircraft. We commented to each other that maybe we overshot our spot by a foot or so.The jetway driver began to move the jetway eventually; but stopped short of the aircraft. We contacted operations who informed us that a nose wheel was missing from the aircraft and that maintenance was on its way. We spoke to the ramp and eventually maintenance who informed us that they were going to get a jack to support the aircraft prior to deplaning.We kept the passengers informed.Maintenance asked for the gear pins which we gave them through the window. Once they secured the aircraft with a nose jack; tail stand; and gear pins; the jetway was placed on the aircraft and the passengers deplaned. The Main Cabin Door (MCD) was opened at XB:27 local.I conducted a post flight exterior inspection and saw that the left nose wheel axle had sheared at the base. I inspected the main gear and noticed that the left inboard MLG tire had visible damage as well. We assume that the first bump we felt was the nose wheel separating; and the second bump was the main gear coming in contact with the nose wheel.On debrief; the Pilot Flying did not indicate that there was any observable difference in the handling of the aircraft during taxi-in post 'bump'. The landing was normal and within standards; and subsequent taxi did not indicate any issues.
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Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.