A B737-300 ON TKOF ROLL HAD THE R MAIN GEAR INBOARD TIRE AND WHEEL ASSEMBLY DEPART THE ACFT CAUSED BY INCORRECT WHEEL BEARING INSTALLATION.

Narrative

SHORTLY AFTER DEP FROM RWY 34L IN ZZZ; THE ZZZ TWR CTLR INFORMED US WE HAD LOST A WHEEL ON TKOF. IN A VERY SHORT PERIOD OF TIME; WE WERE TOLD WE HAD LOST EITHER THE R OUTBOARD MAIN GEAR WHEEL; THE R INBOARD MAIN GEAR WHEEL OR EVEN BOTH R MAIN GEAR WHEELS. I ELECTED TO STAY IN THE LCL AREA AND REDUCE FUEL TO AN ACCEPTABLE LEVEL (WT) FOR LNDG. THE B737-300 DOES NOT HAVE FUEL DUMPING CAPABILITIES. SINCE I DID NOT KNOW THE INTEGRITY; OR EVEN EXISTENCE OF THE REMAINING WHEEL ON THE R SIDE; I WANTED TO REDUCE THE ACFT WT AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE FOR LNDG. WE HELD OUTSIDE THE SLC AREA FOR 2 HRS. I REALIZED THAT IF WE HELD FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD; WE WOULD BE MAKING AN EMER LNDG; AND QUITE POSSIBLY A PAX EVAC AFTER SUNSET. WITH THIS CONSIDERATION; WE HELD UNTIL THE TIME WE COULD MAKE A LOW PASS; GET A VISUAL INSPECTION FROM THE TWR AND RETURN FOR LNDG JUST PRIOR TO SUNSET. THE LOW PASS WAS CONDUCTED AND THE ATC PERSONNEL; AS WELL AS ACR X MECHS RPTED THE R OUTBOARD WHEEL WAS INTACT; THE INBOARD WAS MISSING. AFTER THE VISUAL INSPECTION; WE RETURNED FOR LNDG. THE PAX HAD BEEN INSTRUCTED AS TO THEIR CONDUCT DURING THE EMER LNDG. THE APCH AND LNDG WERE UNEVENTFUL. WE HAD REQUESTED THE CFR VEHICLES TO BE STANDING BY; AND THEY APCHED THE ACFT IMMEDIATELY AFTER LNDG. THE PAX WERE DEPLANED VIA THE FORWARD ENTRY DOOR; DOWN A WAITING AIRSTAIR; ONTO THE RWY AND WERE LOADED INTO BUSSES. THE ACFT WAS TOWED TO THE MAINT HANGAR IN SLC WHERE IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE MAIN WHEEL BEARING ON THE R INBOARD WHEEL HAD FAILED. THE WHEEL DEPARTED THE AIRPLANE; LEAVING THE AXLE AND TIRE BRAKE ASSEMBLY INTACT ON THE LNDG GEAR TRUCK. THERE WAS ABSOLUTELY NO INDICATION ON TKOF ROLL THAT THE WHEEL HAD FAILED. IN FACT; WHEN THE ERRANT WHEEL WAS LOCATED; IT TOO WAS INTACT AND EVEN STILL INFLATED. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: THE RPTR STATED MAINT FOUND THE R MAIN GEAR INBOARD WHEEL HAD THE OUTER BEARING FAIL. THE RPTR SAID THE FAILED BEARING WAS A B757-200 BEARING WHICH WAS INSTALLED IMPROPERLY ON A B737-300.