B777-200
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Ground Event / Encounter Other / Unknown
Air Traffic Control Issued Advisory / Alert
Procedure; Aircraft
After departure; we were advised by [Center] to re-contact [Departure] in regard to tire fragments found on our departure runway. We were advised that tire fragments had been found and that they thought they could have come from our aircraft. In the course of conversations with the different agencies involved; we also heard that the fragments found were too small to be identified with our particular aircraft and what the ground-based crews had found indicated that the entire tire had been 'exhausted.' We immediately initiated a synoptic check of our aircraft; keying on the FUEL and GEAR pages. The landing gear page indicated that all tire pressures and temperatures were normal with no notable variations. In addition; there were no abnormalities in the fuel system or any other systems in the synoptic pages reviewed. There were no EICAS messages received. Based on those indications; we contacted [Company Operations] and relayed all of the information. We received a reply stating that 1) the original call was made to all aircraft departing within a certain timeframe (not just ours); 2) Maintenance Control found no abnormalities in their system monitors of our aircraft; and 3) The Duty Officer concurred with the decision to continue to our planned destination. Repeated checks enroute verified that there had been no indications of tire damage/loss of pressure and no fuel problems. The landing was totally uneventful as was taxi to the ramp. However; after exiting the aircraft; we saw maintenance personnel clustered around the right main assembly. The number 12 tire; although still fully inflated; had suffered a separation of the entire tread belt. Resulting damage was evident on the trailing edge of the wing (flap) and access panels on the underside of the right wing in addition to numerous rubber scuff markings throughout the entire area. After reflecting on this event; the only other piece of information that I can add is that at V1 the RFO and I noticed both airspeed tapes momentarily stop their normal acceleration and stagnate for about two seconds at about 160 KIAS. There was no yaw or any other abnormal indications for the entire flight.
Narrative 2 contains no additional information.
B777-200 flight crew was notified by ATC of tire debris found on the runway during the timeframe of their takeoff. After verifying that all tire and fuel system indications were normal; the flight was continued to destination where post flight inspection revealed that the entire tread belt of the number 12 main tire was missing.