What happened
The aircraft was substantially damaged when the nose gear assembly collapsed while the airplane was rolling down the runway. The incident occurred after the airplane had veered off the left side of the paved surface during the landing roll. A witness who observed the aircraft on final approach noted that the nose wheel was canted to the left at an angle of approximately 60 degrees prior to touchdown.
The investigation
Post-accident examination of the airframe revealed significant mechanical failures within the landing gear system. Inspectors found a broken steering link within the nose gear assembly. Additionally, a crack was identified in the gear strut housing specifically at the nose gear steering travel stop.
The pilot provided context regarding the condition of the aircraft prior to the flight. The pilot reported experiencing difficulty with directional control during taxi operations before takeoff. It was stated that the turning limits of the nose wheel had been exceeded during previous ground handling operations, which likely contributed to the structural failure observed after the accident.