B737-300
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 219; Flight Crew Type 4000
Communication Breakdown
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical
Air Traffic Control Provided Assistance; Aircraft Aircraft Damaged; Flight Crew Landed in Emergency Condition; Flight Crew Requested ATC Assistance / Clarification; General Maintenance Action
Aircraft
[On our] second leg of the day; Flaps 1 departure; winds were 240/8; temperature 80 degrees; V-speeds 146;146; 151. No cockpit indications. The right main tire tread separated during takeoff roll. Cleanup and climbout were uneventful. At cruise; Dispatch sent us a message that Airfield Operations found our gear door and tire tread on the side of the runway. Dispatch confirmed it was our gear door by the serial number. Captain briefed all crew and passengers of the plan. He flew a configured low approach at our destination. This allowed Tower to visually verify the gear/tires. Captain landed uneventfully and we turned off on Taxiway Delta; got the thumbs up from fire rescue; and proceed to the gate. The right main gear outboard tire was still inflated; but the re-tread portion was gone. The associated main gear door was sheared off midway up the gear. The bottom of the wing/flap directly behind the gear had rubber deposits and at least one dent.
As we were climbing through approximately FL260; we were advised by ARTCC that tire and gear door debris had been found on the runway and they thought it belonged to our aircraft. After about 30 minutes; Dispatch advised us that the part number to the gear door that had been found matched our plane. We came up with a game plan to do a low approach to allow Tower and ARFF personnel to look at our airplane to see if they could give us any details on the status of the gear. We coordinated our plan with the flight attendants. We made a PA to the passengers advising them of our situation. Immediately following the PA; a passenger sitting at the right overwing emergency exit advised us that he had seen tire debris on takeoff. Now we knew the problem was on the First Officer's side.After doing the low approach; we were told the main gear door was missing and the right outboard tire looked damaged. We did a normal approach and landing (flaps 30). With no adverse response on landing; we cleared the runway and stopped on the adjacent taxiway. We asked for the Fire Chief to inspect the gear and advise us of the suitability to taxi. Unfortunately; we never spoke directly with the Fire Chief. He was operating on Ground Control frequency and we had stayed on Tower frequency. Tower never advised us what frequency he was on. After two to three minutes waiting on the taxiway; I was ready to ask Tower what frequency the fire chief was on when two ARFF personnel approached the front of the aircraft from the left side. They gave me a signal to hold my position and they went back to inspect the gear. After about a minute; they gave me thumbs up and proceeded back behind my field of view. With the thumbs up; I asked for clearance to taxi; which was approved by Tower. After the event was terminated; I chatted with the Fire Chief who came up to the jetway. I discussed how I felt uncomfortable not being able to talk directly to him once we were on the ground. He concurred and wondered what guidance I had been given by Tower and I said they didn't give me any guidance regarding how to communicate with him. This lack of communication could have adversely impacted a more serious emergency when a simple radio call telling us what frequency they were on would have solved everything. Additionally; without direct communication; safety was compromised having the ARFF personnel under the aircraft. With any inattention; their safety could have been in jeopardy.
B737-300 flight crew is informed by ATC climbing through FL260 that they may have lost a tire tread and a gear door on takeoff. Crew elects to continue to destination and lands uneventfully with the damaged tire fully inflated; but missing its' tread. The crew is not advised of the radio frequency that ARFF is using and radio communication is never established.