What happened
During the approach phase, the pilot reported experiencing a complete loss of left rudder control. As the aircraft touched down and began its landing roll, it deviated sharply toward the left side of the runway. The aircraft ultimately exited the paved surface on the left side, resulting in the collapse of the nose gear assembly.
The investigation
A post-crash examination of the damaged components revealed significant structural failure within the nose gear mechanism. Specifically, the nose wheel steering housing was found to be cracked. This damage caused the nose wheel to become jammed in a full left position, which directly forced the aircraft off the runway during the landing roll.
Findings
The primary factor contributing to the accident was the mechanical failure of the nose gear system. The cracked steering housing prevented proper directional control and resulted in the nose wheel locking to the left. This condition made it impossible for the pilot to maintain the runway centerline during the critical landing phase.