Yankee AA1
Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Commercial; Flight Crew Flight Instructor; Flight Crew Instrument; Other Multi Engine Instructor
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 174; Flight Crew Total 750; Flight Crew Type 11
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Ground Event / Encounter Gear Up Landing
Aircraft Aircraft Damaged; Flight Crew Landed As Precaution; Flight Crew Returned To Departure Airport
Aircraft
Upon takeoff the nose wheel tire fell off. This was made aware by a transmission from another aircraft on the field and was later verified by Tower by performing a low pass over the runway. Upon landing kept back pressure on the aircraft to slow down the aircraft as much as possible before the nose touchdown. Right before landing removed the mixture and turned off the Magnetos. This was to help reduce the chance of a fire; along with reducing the damage to the aircraft.
Grumman Yankee Flight Instructor reported that the nose wheel fell off on takeoff. The instructor took all the safety precautions to slow down the aircraft before the nose gear touched down during landing and immediately removed the mixture and turned off the magnetos.