What happened
The aircraft experienced a ground loop during ground operations. During this event, the nosewheel steering spring failed. Evidence indicated that this steering component had already failed prior to the accident sequence while the aircraft was away from a repair station.
To address the mechanical issue, the pilot performed a temporary repair on the steering system. However, this makeshift fix proved insufficient and failed during the subsequent ground loop. The pilot later attributed the accident to a combination of the broken steering spring and gusts of wind affecting the aircraft's directional control.
The investigation
Investigation into the mechanical failure confirmed that the steering spring had indeed failed prior to the accident. The temporary repair attempted by the pilot was identified as having failed during the ground loop event, leading to loss of control.
Findings
The primary factors contributing to the accident were the failure of the nosewheel steering spring and the gusty wind conditions. The inability to maintain directional control resulted in a ground loop. No injuries were reported.