Rex plane looses a wheel...

[Stephen Brown]

Plane losing wheel a 'freak event'
July 8, 2008, 9:29 am

Regional Express Airlines says it will not conduct a detailed inspection of its aircraft fleet, despite a wheel falling off one of its planes.

An investigation has been launched into how a wheel detached from a plane flying between Orange, in central western New South Wales, and Sydney, on Sunday.

The aircraft was carrying 30 passengers and landed safely.

The airline's chief pilot, Chris Hine, says the incident was an isolated, freak event.

"Initial investigations appear to be it's not actually anything to do with the attachment of the wheel," he said.

"All that side of things was still intact, so there's nothing to suggest that we need to inspect anything, but our engineering department and quality assurance department are going through a complete investigation and they'll make some recommendations very shortly."

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/07/07/2295936.htm

[Nigel C]

I am amazed this took so long to get to the media.

There's usually at least one passenger who runs to the media with it, or even a spotter who saw the whole landing at Sydney and the events afterwards.

[Grant Smith]

No big red roo on the tail Nige ;)

[Nigel C]

Have you got a can of spray paint? I'm sure I can add something on Friday...

[Stephen Brown]

You can safely bet that the Aircraft Engineering unions would have been singing long and loud if it had have been Red Rat Airways

[Brenden S]

Still a concern for a wheel to fall off though. It still should be investigated as there could be a break down in the job ie a split pin is re used etc

[Rod Sloan]

hmmmm plane loses loose wheel :)

[NickN]

The news report gives the impression the wheel came off the aircraft in-flight between Orange and Sydney. Is that possible? I thought the SAAB landing gear retracted and was sealed internally?

a wheel detached from a plane flying between Orange, in central western New South Wales, and Sydney

[Steve S... 2]

Wheel only falls off for one reason, it wasn't on right. Watch out REX.

Didn't come off with magic I don't think... :p

[Adam G]

I think the last post demostrates why it's sensible to wait for an ATSB investigation....

[Paul C.]

The news report gives the impression the wheel came off the aircraft in-flight between Orange and Sydney. Is that possible? I thought the SAAB landing gear retracted and was sealed internally?

The wheel is not perfectly sealed. Two lids help streamline the aircraft during flight. I spose the wheel fell off inside the enclosure and when they opened up the landing gear it fell out completley on approach into Sydney so I wonder where the wheel ended up?, maybe on someone's head?. Ahh, don't worry because Rex has a spare Saab sitting at WGA so there's plenty of parts here.

[NickN]

Could be floating around in Botany Bay as well.

Sounds like an unusual event thought.

[Nigel C]

The wheel is not perfectly sealed. Two lids help streamline the aircraft during flight. I spose the wheel fell off inside the enclosure and when they opened up the landing gear it fell out completley on approach into Sydney so I wonder where the wheel ended up?, maybe on someone's head?. Ahh, don't worry because Rex has a spare Saab sitting at WGA so there's plenty of parts here.

My understanding was that they knew they had lost the wheel on departure from Orange, and subsequently declared a local standby for arrival into Sydney.

[Paul C.]

http://www.regionalexpress.com.au/MediaAndPressClippings/_lib/img/IMGP2817.jpg

This is Rex's first 340A freighter conversion. Sold to Bridges Worldwide.

[Adam P.]

Disregard, I see it's on the website now.

[Matt Southwell]

the wheel came off just after rotation, it then travelled across another runway over a fence through a small paddock and over another fence coming to rest on a road.
My old flying instructor alerted them to it, as he was sitting at the holding point as the saab rotated in front of him.

[NickN]

Thats a big adventure for a relatively small tyre. Lucky nobody was hurt.