Incident Overview
A bolt that secured the nosewheel steering torque arm to the nosewheel strut separated from the aircraft during the takeoff roll, unbeknownst to the pilot. The pilot continued to the planned destination and landed without nosewheel steering capability. During the landing roll, the pilot attempted to maintain directional control, but the aircraft skidded sideways on the runway, resulting in substantial damage to the airframe.
Post-Incident Findings
After the incident, the bolt was found lying on the runway from which the aircraft had departed. The castellated nut and cotter pin that normally secure the bolt in place were not located. The pilot had performed a preflight inspection prior to departure but had failed to notice that the bolt was no longer properly secured in place.
Damage Assessment
The sideways skid during the landing roll caused substantial damage to the airframe. Specific details of the damage were not provided in the source material.