A BEECH KING AIR 200 ON INITIAL CLB AT 3000 FT DECLARED AN EMERGENCY DUE TO THE LEFT INBOARD WHEEL ASSEMBLY DEPARTING THE ACFT CAUSED BY A FAILED WHEEL BEARING.

Narrative

DURING CLIMB OUT; WAS ADVISED BY XXX DEP CTL THAT AN AIRLINER HOLDING ON GROUND AT XXX WITNESSED WHAT APPEARED TO BE A TIRE DEPART OUR ACFT AFTER LIFTOFF FROM RWY I5; XXX. WE VISUALLY CONFIRMED A MISSING TIRE BY CYCLING GEAR. ABOUT 20 MINUTES LATER WE RECEIVED A REPORT FROM CENTER THAT THE TIRE AND WHEEL HAD BEEN RECOVERED FROM THE XXX RIVER. AFTER DISCUSSING THE SITUATION WITH COMPANY MAINT AT ABC (THROUGH PHONE RELAY WITH FBO RADIO); WE ELECTED TO DIVERT FROM DESTINATION ABC TO ZZZ FOR LNDG; DUE TO NO LNDG URGENCY; BURN DOWN TO LIGHT CROSS WEIGHT; LONG RWY; FAVORABLE WINDS; AND AVAILABILITY OF CRASH/FIRE/RESCUE. PLAN OF ACTION DESCRIBED BELOW WAS BRIEFED BTWN CAPTAIN AND SAFETY PILOT RIDING IN RIGHT SEAT. CAPTAIN THEN BRIEFED PASSENGERS ON SITUATION; PLAN OF ACTION; AND EGRESS PLAN; IF REQUIRED AFTER LNDG. EMERGENCY WAS THEN DECLARED WITH CENTER. ACFT WAS FLOWN LOW OVER RWY 28R AT ZZZ FOR VISUAL INSPECTION BY CFR PERSONNEL; WHO REPORTED ON FREQUENCY THAT GEAR MOUNT (LEFT SIDE) APPEARED OK EXCEPT FOR MISSING WHEEL AND TIRE ASSEMBLY. ACFT TOUCHED DOWN ON RIGHT MAIN LNDG GEAR AT APPROX 80 KTS. AT APPROX 60 KTS; LEFT REMAINING WHEEL (DUAL MOUNTS) WAS LOWERED ONTO RWY. ACFT WAS STOPPED WITH REVERSE AND MINIMUM BRAKING AND TURNED OFF RWY AT APPROX 5100 FT POINT. AFTER 'OK' SIGNAL WAS RECEIVED FROM CFR PERSONNEL STANDING BY; AIRCRAFT WAS SHUT DOWN NORMALLY AND PAX DEPLANED. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: THE RPTR STATED THE RECOVERED WHEEL REVEALED THE WHEEL BEARING HAD FAILED DUE TO LACK OF GREASE AND CORROSION. THE RPTR SAID AT SCHEDULED MAINT PERIODS THE LNDG GEAR IS WASHED USING A HIGH PRESSURE HOSE AND USING A COMMERCIAL CLEANING SOLUTION. THE RPTR SAID AN INVESTIGATION INVOLVING THIS AIRPLANE AND OTHERS IN THE FLEET REVEALED THE WHEEL BEARINGS. GREASE COMPLETELY WASHED OUT AND CORROSION PRESENT ON THE AXLE AND WHEEL BEARING THE RPTR STATED THE CLEANING SOLUTION CONTAINS AMMONIUM CHLORATE AND IS NO LONGER USED ON THIS FLEET.