Incident Overview
Following a landing, the pilot proceeded along the runway centerline before initiating a right turn onto a taxiway, guided by taxi markers. As the aircraft cleared the runway, the pilot detected a brief and unusual wobble in the nose section. Subsequently, the nose of the aircraft dropped onto the runway surface, causing the propellers to strike the pavement. The contact brought the aircraft to an immediate stop.
Post-Event Observations
After the aircraft came to rest, the nose wheel was observed approximately 3 to 5 feet from its original position. The wheel was smoking due to heat at the center bearing axle shaft. A considerable amount of debris was scattered near the front and rear of the aircraft. Additionally, debris from the nose wheel bearing housing was found as far as 500 feet behind the aircraft. The nose landing gear structural attach points sustained substantial damage.
Investigator Findings
An FAA inspector reported that the nose wheel bearing had failed and separated from the nose fork. The inspection also revealed that the bearing and roller retainer on one side of the axle had disintegrated and were missing, while the bearing on the opposite side was completely devoid of any lubrication.
Damage Summary
The aircraft sustained propeller damage from the runway contact, and the nose landing gear attach points were substantially damaged. The nose wheel bearing housing debris was scattered over a wide area behind the aircraft.