ON TAXI TO GATE FLC OF A BAE3201 JETSTREAM COMMUTER ACFT IS NOTIFIED THAT THE L NOSEWHEEL IS MISSING. NO INDICATION DURING TAXI.

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TOOK THE ACFT FROM IAD-JFK-BOS. THE ACFT HAD NO UNUSUAL HANDLING CHARACTERISTICS; TAXIING; TAKING OFF OR LNDG. POST-AND PREFLT DONE AT ALL STATIONS. TAXIING OUT FROM BOS-JFK NOTHING UNUSUAL. TOOK OFF AND LANDED AT JFK; WHEN A RAMP PERSONNEL POINTED OUT THAT THE L FRONT NOSEWHEEL; TIRE AND RIM; WAS MISSING. I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT CAUSED THE WHEEL TO COME OFF EXCEPT THE NUT WAS NOT COTTER PINNED. THE PIN IS COVERED BY A CAP SO UNABLE TO PREFLT. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: RPTR STATES THE ACFT WAS JETSTREAM BAE3201. AS HE TAXIED INTO THE GATE AREA THE MARSHALLERS EYES WERE AS BIG AS SAUCERS AND HE CALLED TO THE FLC THAT A WHEEL WAS MISSING. RPTR THOUGHT HE MEANT TIRE AND WENT TO LOOK THINKING A TIE HAD GONE FLAT AND TORN OFF. IT REALLY WAS A WHEEL MISSING. COMPANY INVESTIGATION INDICATED THAT SOME OF THE TEETH ON THAT FRONT WHEEL HAD BEEN DAMAGED AND DETERIORATED CAUSING THE WHEEL TO DEPART THE ACFT. RPTR SIGHTS THIS AS AN INDICATION THAT THE ACFT IS PRETTY TOUGH. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME IN COMPANY HISTORY THAT THIS HAS OCCURRED. THERE HAS BEEN NO FAA INVESTIGATION.