Event Description
During landing, the experienced captain encountered a right drift on the dry runway despite negligible winds. Rudder, power, and nosewheel steering inputs were insufficient to regain directional control. The right drift escalated into a strong right swerve, even with continued application of full left nosewheel steering and simultaneous braking. The aircraft departed the right side of the runway, and the nosewheel was observed tracking straight into snow with no nosewheel skid marks present.
Investigation Findings
Testing revealed reduced nosewheel steering effectiveness as nose strut compression decreased, due to engagement of the centering cam. This condition contributed to the loss of directional control during the landing roll.
Pilot Reports
The captain reported a nose-high taxi attitude and described the flight as pitch sensitive. Additionally, the captain and other pilots reported difficulty achieving equal braking during conditions of large rudder pedal displacement. This issue is not addressed in pilot or operations manuals.
System Checks
A check of the brake and nosewheel steering systems revealed no mechanical malfunction. The systems were found to be functioning within specifications.