What happened
Following a normal landing, the aircraft initially maintained its position on the runway centerline. However, at approximately 500 feet along the runway, the aircraft began to veer to the right. In an attempt to manage the situation, the pilot applied the handbrake, which resulted in the aircraft exiting the runway.
The investigation
A mechanic inspected the aircraft and determined that the observed damage was not consistent with a hard landing, but rather indicated a sudden stop. The inspection revealed that the aircraft's handbrake cable is connected to the toe brake cable; applying the handbrake locks the rudder pedals, which prevents the pilot from using rudder input to maintain directional control. At the time of the incident, the rudder trim was positioned one-third of the way to the right of center, causing the rudder pedals to be uneven when the handbrake was engaged.
The pilot reported that during the rollout, he retracted the flaps, turned off the boost pump, and then applied the handbrake, at which point the aircraft veered off the runway. Analysis of the nose gear right drag link by the NTSB's Materials Laboratory showed fracture surfaces with a rough, matte gray appearance. The report concluded these findings were consistent with overstress. Additionally, the drag link bolt was found to be bent 13 degrees relative to its axis, also indicating overstress.