Event Description
The pilot performed a normal landing with 20 degrees of flaps in calm wind conditions on a 4,000-foot-long runway. During the rollout, the nose wheel of the Cessna 182E separated from the aircraft. The airplane then veered left and departed the runway.
Metallurgical Examination
Post-accident metallurgical examination of the nose gear fork fracture surface was conducted. The examination revealed thumbnail features typical of fatigue cracking. These features emanated from five distinct fracture planes. The fatigue regions were described as very smooth, containing crack arrest positions, and were darkly discolored. Notably, the exterior surface of the fork showed no evidence of corrosion pitting or mechanical damage adjacent to the fatigue regions.
Findings
The nose gear fork failed due to fatigue cracking that originated from multiple fracture planes. The absence of corrosion pitting or mechanical damage at the exterior surface suggests the cracking developed internally over time.