Incident Description
The pilot reported that the landing was routine until the nose gear contacted the runway. Subsequently, the airplane departed the left side of the runway, and the nose gear collapsed while on the grass.
Postaccident Investigation
A postaccident examination disclosed that the nose gear upper torque link bolt was absent. Searches conducted at both the departure and destination airports did not locate the missing bolt. The investigation found no evidence of any other anomalies.
Maintenance History
The most recent annual inspection of the airplane had been performed on July 23, 1992. The last maintenance action, which involved servicing the nosewheel strut, occurred on May 10, 1993. The mechanic who performed that service stated he did not recall removing the upper torque link bolt at that time.