B737 Next Generation Undifferentiated
Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Multiengine
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 216.12; Flight Crew Total 8599.68; Flight Crew Type 8599.68
Troubleshooting; Confusion
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural FAR; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Inflight Event / Encounter Loss Of Aircraft Control
Air Traffic Control Provided Assistance; Flight Crew Requested ATC Assistance / Clarification; General Maintenance Action
Aircraft
We pushed back normally from the gate. A single engine taxi was attempted and the aircraft would not move. The other engine was started and an abnormally high power setting was necessary to taxi. Initially we considered the high density altitude of ZZZ requiring more thrust; but the aircraft also slowed to a stop very quickly when power was reduced. A gate return was performed; and a quick inspection was done by Maintenance; who found nothing visually abnormal. The passengers were deplaned. Maintenance then jacked up the main landing gear and found an internal wheel bearing on the outboard landing gear that had frozen to the axle; causing the drag on the outboard tire. It was the first flight of the day for this aircraft.
B737 Captain reported a gate return after finding it took abnormally high thrust to move the airplane. Maintenance replaced a main tire and wheel assembly due to a frozen wheel bearing.