Regional Jet 900 (CRJ900)
Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Instrument
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe
Aircraft Aircraft Damaged; Flight Crew Landed in Emergency Condition
Aircraft
After 1.5 hour[s] into our flight we were informed by Maintenance that one of our MLG (Main Landing Gear) wheels had been lost during takeoff. We had no indications that anything had occurred prior to that point. We prepared a game plan with our QRH; flight attendants; Maintenance; ATC and company. We did a flyby of the Tower to confirm MLG Wheel loss and it was confirmed. We executed a go around and set up for an ILS approach on the longest runway. We landed uneventful; using limited braking and were towed off the taxiway. The wheel sheared off during takeoff; during the walk around all tires and wheels looked normal. Taxiing everything felt normal; expect one of the times we used the brakes it felt like it was a bumpy taxiway and the plane stuttered. The second time we used the brakes it was normal; so we assumed it was a bumpy taxiway; which is normal on taxiways. Nobody knows the exact cause yet.
About 1.5 hrs. into flight we received Acars message that we may have lost a tire on takeoff. Maintenance Control later confirmed that we indeed had lost a tire. Because the QRH has no Loss of Wheel procedure we followed QRH 13. We opted to continue to destination to burn off fuel and land at an airport that had plenty of emergency services available; with multiple runways. Including a 13;000 ft. runway. We [advised ATC]; briefed the FA's (Flight Attendants) that although we expected our remaining wheel to provide us with a safe landing; we couldn't be sure; so to fully prepare the cabin for possible gear collapse. About 40 minutes out I briefed passengers and tried to put them at ease that we fully expected everything to turn out ok but we wanted to be extra cautious just in case. We did a low approach down the runway to give ground personnel a chance to give our gear a look over to make sure that it appeared down and locked. We then went missed approach but left the gear extended; and got vectors to the 13;000 ft. runway. We used most of the runway to slowly stop so as to not exacerbate any gear or braking issues. We then had a tug tow us in. We did feel some unusual grabbing of the brakes as we slowed at the approach end of the runway which completely disappeared as we taxied on to the runway and proceeded to takeoff; almost as if the anti-skid was a bit confused. Not sure yet what caused the problem in the first place.
CRJ-700 flight crew reported loss of a main landing gear wheel on takeoff roll.