Investigation into post-takeoff loss of ATR 72 nosewheel proves inconclusive
April 4, 2025
Having been investigating the October 2023 incident in which an ATR 72 right nosewheel became detached from an aircraft landing at Belfast City Airport, the UK AAIB has concluded that the exact cause of the incident remains unknown.
The ATR 72-212 had departed from Edinburgh Airport when the right wheel from the nose gear leg detached from the aircraft, unobserved by airfield operations. With the flight crew also unaware of the wheel loss, its absence was only noted following the aircraft’s landing and taxi onto the stand, during which no adverse performance was felt.
After the ground crew informed the commander that a nosewheel was missing, both airports carried out runway inspections, and local police searched the area under the approach path. The wheel was discovered alongside the runway at Edinburgh while the aircraft itself was quarantined.
A number of contributing factors into the loss of the right front nosewheel (which was caused by a bearing overheat) were identified, including over-greasing of the bearings, the lack of wheel balancing weights, and “the application of an interposition product between the mating faces of the two half-wheels which can cause the tie bolts to loosen”.
However, the AAIB could not positively determine the root cause of the axle bearing failure, noting that “aside from risks inherent to debris on active runways, had the nosewheel detached during the approach at Belfast, it could have fallen on an urban area”. The AAIB therefore concluded with advice highlighted by the manufacturer, reiterating “the importance of adherence to aircraft and component maintenance manuals”.
