Accident Sequence
The pilot reported that after takeoff, the flight proceeded toward the destination airport, but he decided to perform a touch-and-go landing at Lakeland Linder Regional Airport. The flight was cleared for the touch-and-go on runway 09. Following touchdown on the runway centerline, the airplane bounced 1–2 feet and then touched down again. The airplane then began a slow drift to the left, which the pilot was unable to correct with right rudder input. He applied power to go around, but then elected to remain on the ground. With right rudder applied, the airplane departed the left side of the runway. It collided with a taxiway sign, causing separation of the nose landing gear. The airplane came to rest, and the occupants exited.
Weather and Wind
A surface weather observation (METAR) taken at the airport approximately 4 minutes after the accident indicated wind from 030 degrees at 4 knots.
Examination Findings
Personnel from Cessna Aircraft Company, with Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) oversight, examined the left and right steering tube assemblies. The examination revealed that both steering tube assemblies (part number 0543021-1) were fractured due to overstress at the formed bead, with deformation noted at the fracture location. Additionally, the left bearing-rod end (part number S1823-3) had fractured at the location of the first thread. The fracture surface was examined by the NTSB Materials Laboratory and determined to have failed due to bending overstress. According to the operator's Director of Maintenance, there was no record of either steering tube assembly being replaced since the airplane was manufactured on April 30, 2003. At the time of the accident, the airplane had accumulated approximately 884 hours since overhaul.