What happened
During the takeoff roll on runway 32, the aircraft veered off the runway, leading to a collapse of the nose gear. Prior to departure, the pilot reported winds from the east at approximately 11 knots, gusting to 19 knots. As the aircraft reached an indicated airspeed of 70 knots and entered the rotation phase, the pilot attempted to maintain a straight track using right rudder and right aileron to counteract the crosswind.
At this point, the airplane swerved to the left. The pilot and passenger reported a sensation that the tail of the aircraft was being pushed forward and to the right, which caused the nose to move toward the left. Unable to maintain directional control, the pilot cut power, and the aircraft came to a sudden stop in the sand. There were no injuries reported.
The investigation
An airframe and powerplant mechanic inspected the aircraft following the accident. The examination of the flight controls, steering rods, springs, and cables revealed that all components were intact and continuity was established. Additionally, no anomalies were found regarding the nosewheel or the axle.